Sep 10th, 2009
If I’m so Cheap, Why do I Eat Out?
Some people wonder why I go out to eat when I’m so worried about my budget. I often eat out, particularly on weekends. To me it’s a price I pay for productivity.
It’s a lot easier for me to get work done when I don’t have a lot of distractions around me. For instance, home is often filled with family members who need or want attention; it’s hot; it’s often got a million things going on or needing attention.
Instead, when I’m out, often in a restaurant but sometimes just in my truck, I can plug in, put in my earbuds, tune out the world, and focus in ways I can’t when I’m at home. It’s a small price to pay, I think, for more concentration and productivity.
Money is something I exchange for convenience from time to time, and money is something I often give up so I can get more done. My computers are things I use to let me get more done.
So, while it’s not really in my budget to go out to eat, it is in my best interest to get into situations where I can do my best work, and that is worth a certain amount of money–even if it means eating out.
