Are you guilty of eating too much of your paycheck? If you are, then you’re certainly not alone. With more options to order and shop for food than ever before, it’s easier than ever to spend a big chunk of your paycheck on food. In today’s blog, BMG Money reviews some of the most popular ways people are eating their paychecks.
Delivery Services
Just a few years ago, it seemed that ordering a pizza was the only option for having dinner brought to your doorstep. Nowadays, apps like Seamless and GrubHub are connecting restaurants to a new segment of customers who don’t even have to leave their house. How tempting it is to open an app and order your family’s favorite dishes from a local restaurant, knowing all you have to do is go to the door and take delivery of your ready-to-eat meal.
Home chefs aren’t left out of the delivery game. Grocery delivery services such as Amazon Fresh and Shipt are only available in a handful of cities right now, but are sure to expand in the coming years. The convenience offered by delivery services is undeniable, but there is always an added cost to getting food delivered to your door. Are you guilty of over-paying for the sake of convenience?
High-end groceries
Remember when going to the grocery store was as simple as, well, going to the grocery store? With the explosion in popularity of all-natural foods, high-end grocers such as Whole Foods are all the rage now. The high quality of these products comes at high prices, with Whole Foods even having earned the nickname “Whole Paycheck.” These premium prices are as likely to be found on pantry staples as they are on obscure health foods: in fact, a 2015 study by MarketWatch found that Whole Foods’ peanut butter cost almost 20% more than peanut butter sold at Target. Could you stand to save 20% on groceries by opting for a “regular” grocer rather than a Whole Foods-type store?
Fast food and quick fixes
In a way, the drive-thru window is the ultimate icon of modern-day convenience. What’s easier than driving up to a window and grabbing a quick bite without even having to leave your car? Well, paying for it for starters: the average American spends $1200 on fast food annually. That translates to roughly $12.50 per meal. Surely a meal prepared at home for $12.50 would be much higher quality than one from a fast-food restaurant.
These days it’s easier than ever to spend money on eating. Take an honest look at your spending habits and make sure you’re comfortable with the amount of your paycheck that’s going directly into your mouth.