Welcome to my 52 Ways to Save $100 a Month series. We’re serious about saving money in 2016. Sometimes it’s the little things and sometimes it’s the big things. I’m here to walk you through some little things that can add up to BIG savings. 52 little things to be exact. Every week, join me back here for another small money saving tip or idea that might not seem like significant savings until you see the overall yearly savings. It might just blow your mind. So pop in each Tuesday and read a new tip that will help you on your way to save $100 a month!
Okay, I know you read the title, and were like, “Um, now she’s just crazy!” But, hear me out: Skipping a meal once a week–say lunch–can add up to big savings over the course of a year. While it seems extreme, most of us could totally go without a meal and not suffer too terribly. There are days I get so busy I forget to eat. While I know that’s not the healthiest as a habit, I do know it has saved me some money.
I think the busyness is the key because I don’t even miss it or really feel hungry. If you replace your mealtime with productive time or a distraction, you too might not even notice. In place of the meal time, consider taking a walk outside, reading a book or completing a task on your to-do list. It will distract you from what you are missing AND contribute to your overall well-being. Isn’t that all warm and fuzzy?
There are also many dietitians that say a 24 fast monthly is actually healthy {and a number of religions that support this practice as well}. Intermittent fasting has been found to increase life span in animals by as much as 42 percent and reduce the risk of cancer. Fasting can also have beneficial effects for the heart by significantly changing blood cholesterol levels and reducing the risks of heart disease. There is also evidence that it can combat obesity, lower blood pressure, lessen the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
One study, which looked at fasting through several religious traditions, found lower body mass, reduced cholesterol and increased insulin sensitivity were among the positive results {of course, I’d recommend talking to your doctor before you take up fasting}. So maybe instead of skipping a meal every now and then, you actually skip a full day of meals once a month. Looks like you’ll not only save money but see a few extra health benefits as well!
How Much Can You Save: Even if you eat lunch on the cheap, with food brought from home, a simple lunch skipped once a week over the course of the year can add up to over $500 in your pocket. Get crazy and skip it twice, and you get to double your savings.
More Ways to Save:
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clean Out Your Closet {Week 1 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Break Up with Cable {Week 2 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Barter Better {Week 3 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Change Your Own Oil {Week 4 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Adjust Your Thermostat {Week 5 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Take Advantage of Your Perks {Week 6 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Pack Your Lunch {Week 7 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make It Yourself {Week 8 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Preserve Your Bounty {Week 9 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Keep the Change {Week 10 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | The Art of Borrowing {Week 11 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Ditch the Gym {Week 12 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clip a Coupon {Week 13 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Start Your Garden From Seed {Week 14 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Learn to Cut Hair {Week 15 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Become a 1 Car Family {Week 16 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make a Phone Call {Week 17 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Shop Christmas in July {Week 18 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Grow a Garden {Week 19 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Just Say No {Week 20 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Go Generic {Week 21 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make a Budget {Week 22 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Use the Library {Week 23 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Kick the Soda Habit {Week 24 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Improve Your Credit Score {Week 25 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Shop Online {Week 26 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Save on Lodging {Week 27 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Play for Free {Week 28 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Save Big on Birthday Parties {Week 29 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Back to School Clothes on the Cheap {Week 30 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Inexpensively Entertaining {Week 31 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Buy Used College Textbooks {Week 32 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Buy Used {Week 33 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Buy In Bulk {Week 34 of 52}
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BeckyM says
Skipping meals has been proven to cause overeating at a later time(and you may binge, causing you to eat MORE than you would have regularly). So, really, you’d be better off finding other ways to save since in the end you’ll probably end up eating the same amount or more by causing yourself to get that hungry.
Gigi says
Unless you over eat at lunch and are still full at dinner.
Marlo says
Mavis,
BeckyM is right.
Not only is she right, but skipping meals can lead to Type II diabetes. Having a stable blood sugar level is the best thing you can do for your body. Eating healthy foods throughout the day, exercising, and sleeping can all help with this. Spikes and dips in blood sugar due to over exercising, over eating, not eating enough, or eating too many carbohydrates cause stress on the pancreas and endocrine system.
It’s far healthier to keep blood sugars steady and stable. Avoiding Type II Diabetes will save a ton of money in the long run.
Jenny says
Already do this, says every mother everywhere
Gwen says
Amen, Sister!
Brianna says
I could never skip a meal! My blood sugar would drop and I’d get super grouchy. I’ll stick with other ways to save money, for the sanity of those around me.
mdoe37 says
After a six month sentence of medication that piled 17 pounds on me (and after the surgery was finally done), I started the 5-2 Fast. So, I guess basically twice I week a don’t do lunch and I eat minimally at breakfast and dinner. I may have a spoon or two of yogurt if my stomach is talking. Has worked quite well and I’ve lost all 17 pounds since spring. Another benefit….saving money :). A real benefit though is retraining my portion control habits.
Lilypad says
We fast every year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It’s twenty-four hours (sundown to sundown) without food AND water. It’s very tough, I’ll admit that. We are Reform Jews so the rules we follow say we are allowed to take any medication we need, and if at any point we feel like we’re compromising our health, we can stop. Pregnant women and people who are sick or who have ongoing medical conditions don’t have to do it. (Orthodox and Conservative Jews have their own rules and are more strict.) The point for us is not to make ourselves sick but rather by depriving ourselves, to take the time to reflect on the previous year and how we can be better people. In recent years, since I get migraines when dehydrated, I’ve fasted about 21 hours and have drunk a little water along the way so I don’t get one. (When I have migraines, they often last 3 – 4 days so I’d like to avoid that if possible.) It does feel like a huge accomplishment when I’m done and is a sort of spiritual cleansing. It’s also good for remembering how lucky I am that every other day of the year, I can pretty much eat whatever I want, whenever I want to. (Caloric considerations aside, of course! 😉 ) I don’t know if I’d fast to save money, but eating lightly now and again is much better for your health than overindulging in my book!
gina says
I hear you Mavis. This skipping a meal now and then works for YOU! I understand it does not mean that it works for all. I have done it myself, no big deal, however, I know you would say people with health issues should check with their doctors. No brainer!
Hugs,
Gina
Jen says
I like this idea. Yes, I too have heard that skipping a meal can lead to overeating. But I think a person can try it out to see if this is a workable strategy for that individual. I refute the notion that skipping one meal once a week will lead to Tyype II diabetes. I’ve been an RN for 20 years and I guarantee that sounds bogus.
Our family is trying to save $10,000 over the next 12 months to help cushion the blow of college tuition next year. Even at that level, small savings add up. So I like this idea even if it only saves me a couple hundred bucks.
I do have a question though–how does skipping a simple lunch brought from home once a week amount to potentially over $500 a year in savings? That sounds like you’re talking about skipping a $10 meal once a week.