13.

“From the time I was little, through college, and for a few years after, going out to restaurants was my favorite thing in the world. But over time, the experience just got worse, and COVID really killed it. Now, everything costs a fortune, and it just sucks. For a few years, delivery services were a good deal, but now they tack on 30% or more in fees. So, I’m slowly building a culinary repertoire of my own. At first, all I knew was a basic one-pot meal, but I was happy to eat it three times a week. Lately, I’ve been finding dishes that last for a week — meatballs, curry — and just making those. Every once in a while, I surprise myself with how good my food is. I’m saving at least $100 a month (when you count eating out plus the grocery money I’d have spent on prepackaged foods), maybe even $200 some months.”

“I’m down to pizza once a month, and that’s really so I can share it with my housemates. I really love sushi and will still pay for that, but it’s a rare treat.”

—u/FavoredVassal