A Month Without Eating Out in Hawaii: Our Experience and How Much Money We Saved
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- Опубликовано: 12 фев 2023
- We decided to not eat out in Hawaii for 30 days. We learned a lot and saved quite a bit of money. I know that food is a big part of Hawaii's culture. Hawaii people love to eat. And they especially love to eat out. Part of it is because the food tastes great, but I think part of it is the culture. And considering we live in the most expensive state, I sometimes find it interesting that local people love to eat out. So I intereviewed my wife about what she experienced while not eating out in Hawaii for one month. For me, it wasn't really hard, but it was challenging for her. And of course, we saved a lot of money.
Filmed using the DJI Osmo Action.
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My wife and I (no kids) live in Kihei and we hardly eat out, hardly go out to events & hardly socialize (except with family). The bills, grocery costs, gas, etc are more than high enough that it's become pretty much a necessity for us to be very frugal. Wages still has not caught up with inflation so as much as we would love to spend and support local, it's just so tough to make ends meet. And as much as we have a love-hate relationship with tourists, I'm happy to see they mostly spend their money on local businesses.
It must be expensive in Maui. Not sure how the locals make it because the prices are higher on the neighbor islands.
arrent their wild fruits growing around the island? and wild chickens
It's hard to cook everyday. It is tiring & at times a real chore! During the beginning of pandemic, we did not eat out or do any take out for months. You definitely saved a lot of money on food & entertainment.
I do most of the cooking compare to my husband. I work full time & have 3 boys. Thank goodness my kids are older but I still don't like cooking!
It's very expensive to eat out for our family. I have my boys help out with cooking. I have "fend for yourself Fridays" & have my kids cook dinner on the days I am just tired from work & have no motivation to cook. It's hard planning out what to make each week & do the grocery shopping. Eating out is a nice treat & just to get a break from the daily grind of life. It's a luxury, not a necessity.
lol. We used to have something similar on Fridays. Dinner on your own Fridays! 😆
I love your wife’s commitment to adhere to not trying to eat out. But as a husband married for 23 years with two kids that are grown. Even though it is proven that eating at home is prevalent than eating out. I learned that my wife needed that outlet to relieve some of pent up stress of each days struggles as a mom and wife. In this tough economy with cost of living going up it’s hard to keep expenses down. So I give two thumbs up for your wife’s commitment.
A big contradiction for me is besides my RUclips channel I hardly eat out. I eat out once a week for the video. Maybe twice a week if someone invites me somewhere. Otherwise I would rather stay home and cook all my meals. I rarely ever eat out for lunch at work or ever buy coffee at a Starbucks or wherever. The money that you save is tremendous. For me, I use the money to travel a lot. For others, you can use it for your hobbies, bills, or whatever you please. If you love food a lot then go for it, but it's probably not too good for your health in the long run if you eat out a lot - or your wallet. I know some people that eat out almost every day or most of the week. I think moderation is key.
Mahalo for sharing. Good to know a little behind-the-scenes for you, especially because of your videos. I know people who eat out almost everyday. Not sure how, but I guess if it's their hobby, go for it.
I haven't eaten out since the pandemic! I realized very quickly just how much money I was spending on it and how much I could save by not doing so. I chose to never go back unless it is a necessity. I'm talking about months worth of money. It is so easy to learn how to cook just about anything you want via RUclips and most ingredients can be bought in bulk. So there was one thing good that came out of that pandemic I guess, and that was a lesson in frugality.
RUclips is a great place to find recipes. Lots of good local food recipes and videos.
Bottom line is that it's often a trade off between convenience vs. saving money. Each person has to decide what they value more. Especially in Hawaii, where both spouses typically work, the time necessary to do food prep, cooking, and clean up after an exhausting day of work and other family necessities can make it feel like it's worth it to bite the bullet and just eat out. And that's not even taking into consideration the social and cultural aspects of dining out in Hawaii. There has to be commitment from both spouses to the decision in order to prevent friction between them. Otherwise, there's a heavy price to pay for the disunity. There's already enough pressures to living in Hawaii without adding that to the mix.
Mahalo for the comment. I agree that a lot of it is convenience. We'd take out food a lot when I was younger because we'd get back home really late after practices.
It is no different here in the Bay Area on the mainland. Two parents working, cleaning, laundry and the highest utility and water rates than you will find in Hawaii. I lived in Hawaii and loved it and know it is expensive, but the culture is so worth it.
I don't think I could go a whole month without In-N-Out Burger! :)
It is good to keep your spending under control by being aware of how much you spend on each category of stuff.
It is good to plan ahead.
Single Waikiki dad here w/ a daughter to care for. While due to expense, eating in is the norm, I can definitely relate to having a "challenging day" and cooking plus the clean-up being the last thing I want to do. On those rare occasions, it is a blessing to have so many great options to choose from and bring home as a tasty treat to keep the stress in check. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Mahalo for sharing. Must be challenging because there are so many options in Waikiki too. My wife loves the area near Diamond Head by Pioneer and Da Cove.
TY for this video. I enjoyed your wife’s input & articulation about how stressful cooking for a family of four is in this day & age. My grandpa was a contractor on Oahu for many years & ate nothing but my Grandma’s cooking every night. There was the occasional steak house & Chop Suey meal but TOTALLY emphasized how nutritional homemade meals can be at times. My mom is a phenomenal cook but she does like the convenience of going out. TY again for sharing this video 🥰🥰🥰
Thank you for the comment. Yes, I'm proud of my wife for sharing. I know it's tough to cook after a long day, especially for four.
eating out is all about convenience for me with having a full time job and kids! We don't do it often though, but grocery shopping, planning, cooking and cleaning is a lot of work lol, nice to have a break from that sometimes. I'm glad you guys survived this month challenge, but you're right, Hawaii has such good food! The irony of the cost of living here paired with the love of eating out was spot on
Thanks for the vlog. Plate lunch prices got crazy! Good thing I enjoy cooking. I mainly cook on the weekends when I have more time. When I cook, I make enough so that it will last several days. What I don't eat right away, I freeze. Makes it is easier during the week. Eating out is usually a plan B for me.
Recently visited my sister in the mainland. She received a expresso maker. Each day she made me specialty coffee drinks. Washington state has a ton of coffee venues $6 a cup. So easy to be tempted. She has developed many signature dishes that her family love especially through the pandemic. I'm a bad influence we ate out trying restaurants that we don't have in the islands
😆 Might as well eat out if you're visiting
You're right, eating out is a really big cultural thing here. It's usually time with family and friends and no one has to clean up. Also Hawaii has some really good food.
Yeah, no clean up. I still remember those days of having to do dishes at my Grandma's house. 😅
Good information for anyone living in the USA. California is expensive too. Having two young children is a lot of work. Eating in means shopping for all the ingredients for a dish, prepping the food, cooking the food, serving the food and cleaning all the dishes, pots, pans, table and kitchen. It's a lot of work no matter how many you have in your family. That's why when a homemaker's salary is computed it is a couple hundred thousand dollars or more. If you had to hire someone to do all that work you wouldn't have money left for a mortgage or rent.
Thank you for sharing your story about life there in Hawaii.
Wow, that was impressive! I know that groceries have gotten so expensive that we hardly go out however, when we do it's always a shock price wise
I think that's why so many locals shop at Costco and Sam's. Buying in bulk helps.
Brah, I feel this so much. I have tried not eating out and then I always get asked to grab a beer or get dinner. I will try again starting Monday 🍱 🥢
Appreciative of your wife's articulate account and openness to the social experiment! Especially sympathetic to the exhaustion and frustration of not having a convenient option to turn to. Half the battle is being aware of our emotional ties to behavior/habits/coping mechanisms. But also being open to the uncomfortable learning experience and realization of other benefits, innovative self strengths, and other solutions that can be freeing. Empowering to realize the agency of choice and options for health and financial freedom. Growing up, eating out even then was a luxury. Mahalo for reals to our foodie RUclipsrs to vicariously live out those ono grindz!
Mahalo for the comment. I still believe that eating out is a luxury, even if the food isn't expensive. But I know there are days when we're both tired and eating out is worth it.
Something that might help to end boredom with home food: for 30 days try one of those services that send you a recipe and all the ingredients for meal prep. It helped me to realize, wow, following this fairly easy recipe....I can actually make a really really good well balanced meal, with ingredients that are pretty commonly found at the store. You keep the recipe cards, and just go to the store to recreate the recipe, which also is not difficult. This is coming from someone (me) who has never been particularly good at preparing meals. But finding the right recipe makes a world of difference. We discontinued "something plate" after 30 days, we loved the food, we made, but there was some 'packaging waste' involved in the shipments that made me uncomfortable throwing that away with each shipment.
Great video, Chris, and an excellent idea! If I could only employ this on my wife and her constant Amazon “from cell phone” shopping! 😊
😆 Don''t forget Ross.
This was so good thanks for sharing
I agree with you. We eat out a lot because we both have busy jobs. We spend close to a $800 a month which includes my son and family for family dinners.. a casual dinner can cost about $150 at the low
It sure adds up cause we don't have a budget. We just enjoy eating out too.
Now that my husband jus retired we will need to adjust plus prices at the restaurants have increased too.
Good video today.
I think what you spend is pretty typical. And with rising prices, we'll see if locals continue to eat out or if those price points are too high.
Great video!!! Save $$$. And healthier too.
Always enjoy your perspective on life here in the islands.
I’m totally glad the lunch wagons I’d like to try are like in Haleiwa or the North Shore side. Cause I’d be in trouble if they were up the road.
I’d be a Big Broke aunty!!!! 😂
Glad you guys made this video... I eat out way too much, like once a day on average... just the thought of having to cook two or three meals a day leaves me exhausted, and even the ingredients are so expensive that going to the Hilo or Maku'u farmers markets, I can drop $80 easily in one trip... it is crazy. I'm sure I could save a lot by eating it and it would probably be good for my waistline. Even the fast food here is so overpriced that it is hard to believe.
I think this one is true everywhere right now. Eating out represents a not-trivial expense of choice, as you pointed out, in a time when prices on necessities are going up. But it’s hard to stop when much of your social life involves meeting friends at Starbucks or starting the playgroup at the shave ice truck.
As so often, a thought provoking video.
It gets real when you ask yourself whether you can give up eating out in order to stay or live better in Hawaii. $500 a month is 11 thousand dollars a year. But the quality of your life changes, yah? All food for serious thought. Thanks for your interesting ideas, as always.
Mahalo for the comment. It's a tough balance because of the social aspect. I think the most important thing is to track the spending. Just so you're aware.
Something that might help to end boredom with home food: for 30 days--try one of those services (ev-plate or others) that send you a recipe and all the ingredients. It helped me to realize--wow, following this fairly easy recipe--I can actually make a really really good well balanced meal, with ingredients (we did ev-plate) that are pretty commonly found at the store. You keep the recipe cards, and just go to the store to recreate the recipe--which also is not difficult. This is coming from someone (me) who has never been particularly good at preparing meals. But finding the right recipe makes a world of difference. We discontinued ev-plate after 30 days----we loved the food, we made-- but there was some 'packaging waste' involved in the shipments that made me uncomfortable throwing that away with each shipment. --Tom from Wisconsin.
I love eating outside in Hawaii because the food is great & it's fun to go out with friends in such nice weather......On the other hand, Japanese don't due to the high cost. My mom spent about 8hrs in the kitchen for 50+yrs. But nowadays, Japanese women don't work the house a lot though. Values are shifting.
Mahalo for sharing. My wife stays at home to watch the kids. It's tough work and I'm glad she still finds time to cook.
I feel your pain.
Food is my love language and we have a rule in my household that we go out to eat as a family. Everything is so expensive and of course if you're eating at a sit down place you have to tip, right? Of course!! Plus when we make stuff at home I can omit things I don't like and add more of what I do like. My coworkers always bring extra as do I do we can share and feel like we have a variety. And I make my own coffee via coffee pods instead of going to Pete's or Starbucks daily. Saves me a bit and I don't feel like I'm missing out on my daily cup/s of coffee which I enjoy.
Mahalo for sharing. My wife might have a similar love language. I know she enjoys it and I learned a lot about her this past month.
What do you do with your used coffee pods? I feel guilty when I use them because they are going into landfills. I used to poke holes in the pods and sprinkle the coffee grounds in the garden then throw the pods in the recycle bin. I get so confused with all the new recycling laws in California. I have to keep my paper bags to throw compost into them put the waste in my yard waste cans. The pods are so easy to use. Even with brewing with ground coffee there is waste to handle and laws to follow. I would always want chemical free filters. Some recycled paper filters smell like chemicals. Everything we do has consequences and adds work. I'm happy to try to save our planet. Eating out containers have to be properly disposed. I reuse all the plastic utensils until they fall apart. Some food establishments use paper straws, some don't.
Right on! Grats on completing your challenge! When you did finally eat out did you find the food was a bit too salty?
lol. I think she had a sushi roll so probably not too salty. Plate lunches tasted good, though. 😆
While I don't go out for meals too much, I am guility of eating mostly pre packaged convenience foods at home. I guess you could say I don't really "cook" so much as heat things up. Think frozen pizza, boxed pasta meals, microwaveable foods, etc. If I do use the stove it's for boiling water for a prepackaged meal. After work I go to the gym (free at the campus where I work) and then when I get home I don't have the time to make something from scratch. My husband is more of a cook than I am and works from home so he's there to cook anything that takes longer than just heating something up. It's difficult to cook if you're working full time or more than one job withought having someone who's home more to cook or at least get the prep work done. Where I have to be careful is just getting something to go from a restaurant to take home, it's not just dining in the restaurant that's expensive, but sometimes I wonder with the price of groceries if I'm not breaking even picking up food from somewhere to eat at home.
So tough, good job!
I've been cooking and eating at home since COVID 19 started, I save money and eat healthy more, since 2020 until now I cooked and eat at home.
Since the 'demic started my home-cooking game has improved a ton. Growing being very poor on the windward side, I already had some cook-fu, but man .... meal from restaurant might be $15 or $20, but I can make something as good at home for like $5 or $6.
That's great. I think a lot of people picked up cooking during that past three years. And with higher eat out prices, hopefully that pays off.
This blog is awesome. Mahalo I try to eat out once a month..normally I cooked my meals. I treat myself to L&L..the roast pork is so ONO for $10 bucks sometimes I understand. I live in Las Vegas. But Great Blog Mahalo wanna come home..Too Expensive.
$10? So cheap 😆
I think it really depends on if you love to cook! I personally love to cook once you cook for yourself all the time you will miss homemade food because it’s so good! BUT if your not a real good cook you’ll want to eat out! Sometimes it is cheaper to get it out but mostly NOT CHEAPER everywhere not just in Hawaii illinois is soooo high too breakfast two eggs and toast no meat is $12.00!
Mahalo for sharing. $12 sounds like Hawaii prices.
You two are such a cute couple!
solid advice right here. I'm don't want to accept the advice but it does sound like a good idea. :D
🤙
Sometimes deciding what to cook is the hardest part. It is easier if you plan ahead.
Long ago, not just in the Before Times but just before the crash of 2008, I realized I, myself, alone, was spending about $900 a month on food! I was making good money, so I was like, Hey I'm making a few hundred a day, I can spend $30 a day on food .... well, I had to get serious about paying down credit cards so I started keeping track, in a Composition Notebook, of all my expenses, and wow, I was spending that much on food? i got it down to $300-$400 and eventually over time I've learned I can eat well on $200 or so. I can go down further from there, but wow just wow. Try keeping track, people, you might be strapped for money and not realize you're spending $300 a month on sodas or something.
Mahalo for sharing. Yeah, keeping track is challenging at first, but it helps with accountability. Because when you realize you're spending $X on drinks and snacks, it might cause you to pause for a bit.
We share food when we eat out because the portions are so huge but quite honestly, I prefer homemade food. I don’t have kids though so I know how hard it must be for a mom to be cooking all the time but we grew up with 7 in our family and not a lot of money so eating out was definitely only a treat once in awhile and now a days I could never justify the cost of eating out. Thanks for sharing your experience 😊
Mahalo for sharing. My wife's cooking is good. I'm always impressed when she cooks at home.
Wow $400 plus savings? In only 1 month ? Appreciate your wife's honesty, my would probably react the same. Mahalo
😆 Yeah, it was a big month for us. We don't usually spend that much, but work was busy for me and so I factored in that.
We’re forced to pay the price to keep ourselves sane. What we used to pay for a family of 4 eating out weekly was around $55 - now it’s up to $85-$99 crazy!!
lol. Yeah, I was surprised when we spent $44 on just me and my wife earlier.
What does upside down ALOHA mean? Does poke from a grocery store count as not eating out? Outside of restaurants, I have never found monchong, even at fish markets. Does anyone know where to find it?
The hat is from Aloha Revolution. Their website explains the meaning of the logo. We did go grocery shopping, but I'm pretty sure she didn't eat poke.
Hello this video is nice and clear
Mahalo 🤙
We just came home from 10 days in Kauai. We were there last in 2019. It was amazing to see it after 4 years. It’s truly magical and our happy place. The cost is so high! My husband and I are fortunate to go every year except during Covid.
I am confused, you say you visit every year, but yet the last time you been was 2019? Maybe the question is, what do you consider the covid period?
@@FIRED13 we were in Maui in 2020 right before Covid hit. I forgot to mention it.
It's definitely getting a little more expensive. Kauai must have been nice.
Yes, I have found Kauai to be cheaper than Maui and Oahu for sure. Maybe the next video might be a cost of living comparison of between the islands?
I literally do not eat in my apartment, I eat out literally everyday. If not then donquijote or foodland premade foods, lol. Only thing in my fridge are fruits and water.
lol. Must be nice :)
We watch your videos as soon as you post them and we look forward to them. I'm sure you probably meant the tourist or mainlanders instead of white people when you made this comment. But since my husband is a local boy and I'm that white chick from the mainland..lol lol. Let me tell you what we see from our side of the fence. First off we have trouble getting into restaurants in Florida where we live for 8 months because we have all the snowbirds that come down and clog up the restaurants. So we look forward to coming over here and eating the wonderful food but we don't go out to eat very often and normally we just pick up a carryout. But the funny part is when we do go out to eat we watch the Asians who are coming over from Japan to visit take pictures of all their food and every bite they put in their mouth. So I guess it's kind of depends on what side of the fence you're standing on. Eating out is very expensive whether it be in Florida or Hawaii. And it has created a situation where we do eat in more than we go out and that gives us a lot more time to watch your videos. Kiss the baby's faces. we love you guys
I'm visiting for two weeks. I'm eating out. The cost of living is increasing everywhere. I'm in shock, but you can save a lot of money. It's all about convience. You can save for a house by investing that money. I eat one meal a day out.
Not eating out has its financial benefits but causes more work for whoever has to cook. Its hard.
The worst shock for locals was seeing your favorite plate lunch prices jump.
I live in Charlotte, North Carolina and the rent here is outrageous because so many people have moved her especially from New York. I eat out another 2 times a year because it is expensive to live here as well. I have an idea for y’all … why don’t you pack a picnic and go to a park or the beach to eat? That way you can save money and still go out. 🤔
Gonna try this with the wifey with Marshalls, Target, TJ Mac. Homegoods 😂
😆 Don't forget Ross.
@@HelloFromHawaii yes, that used to be top of the list but not anymore
Where was that spot you were filming
Kakaako Farmers Market
I try not to “eat out” very much. I am a coffee snob so I bring my own to work. I was given a $10 Starbucks gift card 3 months ago and it is still in my wallet. But, I do not really like to eat out as food I prepare is much healthier. A note: Did you plan on not eating out? I mean buy certain foods ahead. You mentioned drinks but did you buy extra snacks to have on hand? 🤔. 🌴🌴Aloha
We still bought groceries, but just didn't get anything to eat out, like mochi or pastries.
eating out once in a week is ok...but not everyday...sometimes you fed up cooking and eating the same food over and over again sometimes like for 3 meals eating the same food 😩😂 so it won't go to waste
I don't do fast food. Too expensive nowdays.
10:00 *how much they saved*
Did your wife have to pick up all the extra cooking 🍳 work?
She's the cook in the family. I tried, but she prefers not to eat my food.
So I question how much is really saved. I was just there helping my daughter with the grand kids while she was starting a new job and waiting for household goods to arrive (they are navy). I was making a dish that required a red bell pepper. I went over to the local Safeway in Eva Beach, $6.00 for A bell pepper! Daughter sent me a picture of $17.99 for 3 bell peppers at the commissary. You know no-one will pay that or can afford to pay that ,and they are probably gunna go to waste. Food Land was no better. Enough of my rant, needless to say I didn't buy a bell pepper. So I kinda feel like others commented sharing a plate lunch is cheeper. I also feel for your wife, two little kids is a lot of work and looking forward to a little treat is a boost!
Mahalo for sharing. It's expensive to cook, but I think much cheaper in the long-run. The meals and ingredients also stretch out if proper planning. And yes, my wife works really hard by cooking and watching the boys.
Is $400 net saved (cost of eating out - cost of home made meals)? Wife and I usually share a take out plate and add frozen vegies to it. Watching AMWF channels from Korea and Japan, they certainly eat alot of those unhealthy $1.50 ramen packages.
The $475 was just how much we would have spent on eating out. We didn't factor in the additional food bought from the grocery store, but I think it's wasn't that much more.
@@HelloFromHawaii OK, about eating out I did not factor in the fun or junk foods like drinks, snacks,sweet things, etc., those things add up.
I wouldn’t be able to not eat out for 30 days in Hawaii. The food there is too good.
Eating out is not the most beneficial, ie, health-conscious and costs . I admit all the diverse cuisine is delicious.
We would save more money if there were not all the plate lunch or baked goodies being sold as fund raisers.
lol. 😅 Can't forget the candy bars and cookies.
Is there a meaning to ALOHA being upside down on your hat? not like the Hawaiian flag being flown upside down.
It's from Aloha Revolution. Their website explains the meaning.
I love your videos, but to be accurate, you need to take into consideration how much more you spent at the grocery store. I'm sure money was saved by not eating out, though...just not quite as much as you think.
Mahalo for the comment. The $475 was the amount we saved, but did not factor in any additional groceries to make up not eating out. So I agree that the net amount would have been useful as well.
@@HelloFromHawaii Hey, your videos are always useful! I just noticed when I try to save money from going out to eat, we definitely save money, but the grocery bill does go up substantially. P.S. Can't wait to get out of cold Wisconsin and visit Oahu in a couple of weeks! Aloha!
How can you torture your family. The food is so good. Once in a while ain't bad. There are so many foods you can't make at home.
We just wanted to try and see if we could make it for one month. And we did 😁
@@HelloFromHawaii I'm sorry, I was only trying to throw a little humor into the comments. Remember during the pandemic, how many times a week did you go out to eat?
Smh people in Hawaii. are forever whining about the high cost of everything, yet you constantly "eat out " ?? So basically it's the old, you want to have your cake, and eat too? I live on the east coast - just bought grocercies for 2 weeks $135 ! but I'm so content to just cook, bake and freeze my food. 😊 PLZ no more sob stories of how Hawaii is being "priced out". I think (some people over there), just like to complain??!
you can save alot of money eating at home