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My new way to save money: Cook dinner, then listen to music
One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to save money. In 2026, I’ve decided to tackle this goal with a unique approach: cutting back on ordering dinner to the house. It’s a resolution that won’t be easy to stick to, considering the convenience of food delivery services. But I’ve developed a proven method to motivate myself: I’m paying myself to cook.
Turning Savings into a Game
Last year, I took a similar approach to reduce my alcohol consumption. For every day I abstained from drinking, I paid myself $2. Each drink would cost me a full day’s savings. This is a twist on the old swear jar concept, which essentially involves putting a certain amount of money into a jar whenever you use a swear word. This method was surprisingly effective, and by the end of the year, I had collected several hundred dollars in savings.
Applying the Concept to Cooking
This year, I’ve decided to apply the same concept to cooking. For every dinner I cook at home, I pay myself $5. Whether it’s an elaborate dinner, leftovers the next day, or a simple frozen pizza, each meal earns me $5. Even if my partner or daughter cooks dinner, I still get $5. The goal here is to reduce the number of meals we order to the house each week. If we can do that, we can cut our food orders by $50 a week, net of groceries, for total savings of $2,600 a year.
The Motivation Behind the Savings
However, the money saved is only half of the motivation. Having a spending goal in mind is what truly inspires me to tie on an apron and start cooking. This year, that goal is to buy vinyl records. I’ve always loved the beauty of turntables and cover art and the ritual of dropping the needle. New vinyl records can be expensive, so the money saved from cooking at home will go towards expanding my collection. With a Discretionary Plus account, fed regularly by healthy home-cooked meals, my guilt over buying vinyl records disappears.
A Universal Approach to Saving Money?
I believe this approach to saving money can work for anyone. The trick is to choose a dollar amount that will motivate you without causing financial strain. You can target any unwanted expense or activity, or encourage yourself to engage in a beneficial activity. As for the spending part, pick any guilty pleasure. Whether it’s saving for a vacation, paying down debt, or increasing your charitable donations, having a purpose for the money you’re saving can serve as a powerful motivator. So, what’s your savings goal for 2026?
