I have been doing some calorie counting and fasting recently and it’s really helping me save money! I haven’t calculated the savings yet. I’m two weeks in and just noticed it. I have a bad habit of spending way too much money at the grocery store in order to cook something elaborate and so much goes to waste. Has anyone calculated or estimates their weekly or monthly savings (from shopping for food) and are willing to share? I’m curious!
YES. I think I’m going to use the money saved to get semi-regular massages. I have problems with anxiety (and, therefore, cortisol) which can act just like insulin resistance. So, aside from being a ‘treat,’ it may actually help my weight loss!
(An hour massage decreases cortisol by about 30% and increases serotonin by 50%. Unfortunately, in the studies I’ve read it hasn’t stated how long those benefits last. But I imagine, like with fasting, there may be some cumulative effect if done regularly.)
*My husband and I are saving between $100-$150 each/month doing 3 36-hour fasts per week.
I’ve never tried to figure out any savings (I do more IF than longer fasts). I have started a little financial twist though. On days where I meet my fasting goals, I move $10 to a category in my budget called “fasting fun bucks.”
Over time the goal would be to save up for something specific (new clothes?) or use it for something spontaneous. It would probably be a more motivating activity if I had a goal in mind to save up for.
I have! To be fair I was eating out for lunch almost every day and always had a well stocked fridge. I’m saving about $200 a month by fasting and overall decreasing my calorie intake. My usual food budget is $500 a month. I’ve been chucking my savings into an investment account. I should be at goal by my birthday in July, accounting for some plateaus. I’m treating myself to a whole new wardrobe then. $1500 saved so far! (I did throw $500 in to start it years ago)
When I was really fasting a lot (at least 3 days of every week) it meant I was finally able to afford healthy food. All the money saved by not eating went into allowing me to buy things like salmon or fresh vegetables for my refeeds. It usually ended up about the same. Now I’ve moved to a country where food is much cheaper in general, so it’s impossible to really compare.
I am embarrassingly bad at keeping my fridge stocked so I eat out a lot. I’m definitely saving a good amount for each day I fast, even if it ends up being just one meal skipped so I think I’m going to use the last 2 weeks to determine just how much I’m saving daily. Good motivation!
I used to spend around $100 alone on food a month. College is brutal, but honestly summer is usually worse–between the “chipotle night!!!” and late night McDonalds I ate last summer, I probably threw around $400 down the tubes.
I’m saving everything I can because I’m going on study abroad for the full year next year in London and I plan on using all the excess $$$ (or should I say Euros/Pounds) to travel! I am making a HUGE list of places I plan on backpacking/hosteling around. Hostels, despite being cheap, aren’t that cheap, plus there’s the food and drink I will be experiencing on the weekends. So far, I’ve got a healthy amount saved up, I’ll make around $3500-$4500 this summer, which isn’t a huge sum, but given that I won’t have food costs during the week that’s literally all money I can spend on weekends. If I budget right and work a few shifts when I’m home over winter break, I should be ok. I survived this year, with all my traveling and such, on MUCH less/$1500 for the year.