Maybe it's time I enjoy life more for enjoyment's sake.

I was thinking about a few things yesterday when it came to money, eating, and personal development. How I came upon all three subjects in the same thought doesn't matter, but it'll suffice to say that I've seen a lot of personal gain over the past year as I've managed to cook more for myself and spend less on eating out.

This gain has come in two areas specifically. First, I've managed to save a ton of money compared to the first 10 years of my life I've spent paying for my own food. I calculated that I spent about a total of $200 on eating out at restaurants over a six month period. This doesn't take into account the times my work has paid for my restaurant meals, times my family has taken me out to eat while visiting, and it doesn't account for my lack of taking girls out during that period (yes I'll admit it that I'm not a dating machine.) Anyway, I've been preparing most of my own meals, I bring it with me to work most of the time, and it's been great for saving me the expense, and to have better discipline in what I eat, which is the second benefit.

I was forced into this situation when I bought a house last year and I had no renters, and a girlfriend that didn't feel like she had to pay for meals out. So not only was I eating out more often that I normally would as a single guy, I was paying for two people. Good way to empty the pocketbook. Anyhow... breaking up has also saved me money, but I don't intend in remaining single simply for the joys of saving money. Plus, I don't tend to get creative when I'm only cooking for me.

Well, the routine can get old, especially if you don't have a lot in your cooking repertoire. I'm not a bad cook personally, I can follow a recipe, and I actually have a few dishes that I make very well, but it's just not the diversity that one can tolerate without going stir crazy for some restaurant food eventually.

Take my Dad for example. When I'm at home visiting my parents, we'll go out a couple of times within a 3-4 day period. If we never went out, and only ate what my Dad (or even my Mom for that matter) made, I would be perfectly happy, if not happier. I've never had a restaurant meal that beats a Sunday Dinner that my Dad has planned over the weekend. When you're cooking for a family of seven or more it's easier to find the motivation to put some time and effort into making something delicious. One thing my dad has never been hesitant to do is to try a new recipe. He's probably got about three dozen cookbooks that specialize in roasting, barbecue, provincial French, and Indian food, and on and on. He doesn't use every recipe, but he's found enough over the years to have a decent arsenal of ideas at his fingertips that wows everyone who comes over for a meal.

At age 30, I figured it's time that I develop such an arsenal. Not only for the benefits of good eating, but obviously for the other benefits I explained earlier of saving money and controlling how healthy my meals are. I want the experience of eating at home to surpass the quality and nutritional value of what I'm paying anywhere from $5-$20 a meal when I eat out. Typically when I eat alone, I'll make enough for several meals, so I there's really not much reason to feel like it's a waste when I'm cooking for one. Up to this point, a lot of what I've been doing has been just winging it ad hoc, with mixed results, most of them good. Why not make something awesome? The first time will be the hardest, but I think it'll be worth the experience of learning something new I can easily repeat.

Maybe it'll impress the chicks. Aside from the fact that every girl I've dated has negatively impacted my net worth and cash flow, this could compensate for once since I'd never get the "You never take me out" line from a GF perfectly content with my cooking. Since this is a blog, and I've now made this intention public, I'm putting myself in a position where my readers (including friends and family) are now licensed to follow up with me, and to make fun of me for being all talk and no action if I don't follow through on this intention. It makes sense in so many ways, so I'll do my best to keep you updated on my progress.

Once again, I leave you on a more personal note. Throw me your best recipes if you have any that you've been dying to share, but were too afraid of being regarded by a non-cook as irrationally excited over a recipe. I won't judge you. I'll even share with you the stuff I discover... If I actually follow through this time. Hold me to it friends; meals are meant to be enjoyed, and money is meant to be saved for more worthwhile things like travel to Europe, Luxury cars, and a down payment on a home.