Cost of Convenience ~ Part 2
June 20, 2008 |
A few weeks back I wrote a post about the cost of convenience. I have been thinking about the idea for a while and realized that there are many different ways to look at convenience.
As I type this I am in the car headed for the HEAV convention. (Don’t worry I’m not driving). We are staying at a hotel attached to the convention center. The hotel is more expensive than the other hotels in the area, but I am paying for convenience. I won’t have to walk 8 to 10 blocks with all my homeschool items back and forth from the hotel to the convention center. I will also be able to go back to my room during the convention to get food, which brings me to my next point.
Anyone who has ever eaten at a convention center knows the food leaves something to be desired. It is usually overpriced, unhealthy, and tasteless. During my last trip to the store I purchased some convenience foods; chips, crackers, nutrition bars, and some fruit. These are items I do not normally purchase (not including the fruit), but they are great items to take on a trip. Because I purchased these items we will be able to eat breakfast and lunch in our room (which we did). The cost of these convenience items was under $20. There is no way we could have purchased 3 lunches and 2 breakfasts x 2 for that price. In addition, we ate much healthier, fruit and muffins for breakfast, and nutrition bars for lunch, than we would have if we bought food at the convention hall.
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I wrote this post exactly two weeks ago. I never published it because we came home and started moving almost immediately. I wish I would have because I might have followed my own advice. The week of the move, I had all sorts of meals planned, meals that never were made because we were too busy moving. Had I purchased lunchables, frozen pizzas, and other convenience items we would have saved a bunch of money. Instead we ate take our or fast food almost every day of the week because I didn’t have time to cook my planned meals.
I am a firm believer in making food from scratch and feeding your family healthy home cooked meals, but sometimes you will have to choose between frozen pizza and Burger King. Frozen pizza is cheaper, and it might be better for you.
Sometimes you can save money paying for convenience.
For more Frugal Friday visit Crystal’s blog.
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June 20th, 2008 @ 1:46 am
It can also be good to revisit formerly “off-limits” conveniences. Right now, shipping costs for online shopping at specialty stores (like homeschool stores or particular religious bookstores) are cheaper for me than the cost of gas I’d use to drive to their brick-and-mortar locations. I think shipping costs will increase soon, but right now, if you opt for ground shipping, you can actually save both money and time buying certain items online.
June 20th, 2008 @ 1:51 am
Nancy-
Great point. Especially when you are getting free shipping!
Toni
June 20th, 2008 @ 2:49 am
Toni,
I went looking for a baptism gift online (we were invited to a celebration this Sunday). The nearest Catholic shop worth anything is in DC. Gas = $11. Shipping from my favorite not-made-in-China Catholic bookstore = $6.95. Time = priceless, especially considering I have bronchitis. I did spend a little extra on the card, but I didn’t have to make an extra trip to purchase it.
Even Annapolis, only 20-30 minutes from where I live, is an expensive trip now. My son loves Best Buy, but he can only go there when I’m doing other errands near one of our local Best Buys. I’m not doing any extra driving these days!
Now’s the time to place homeschool orders, for sure! I ordered my daughter’s language arts curriculum at a conference and got free shipping. If you wait until August, you won’t get that kind of deal.
June 20th, 2008 @ 2:59 am
When I’m feeling uninspired and bogged down, I try to make a game of the “reverse” of the cost of convenience. How much am I saving by making this homemade whatever (bread. hamburger buns, refried beans, ….)? How much did I save by spending time and effort sorting through coupons and making a meal plan and list? etc. etc. It adds up quickly!
June 20th, 2008 @ 1:32 pm
Great post!
I find the same thing true for feeding my family of 7.
Better to have convenience items on hand that have been purchased on sale(sometimes with coupons too) than to get take out.
June 20th, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
Toni,
I couldn’t agree more. Great post. There are times when it is worth it to pay for convenience. Your example of moving week — eating out vs. convenience foods at home vs. home made — makes a great point. Time is worth something too! During that week your time was most valuable when spent preparing your new home for your family. I prefer to eat home cooked meals also but as long as you don’t eat fast food or convenience food 24/7 x 3 then I don’t see anything wrong with it. Everything in moderation, right?
June 22nd, 2008 @ 1:23 am
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Moving is stressful to being with.