1620 calories

Ah, a new day! Another $16.20 in my bank account. What am I going to spend today's allowance on? $0.85 on an apple, $1.00 on a yoghurt, $0.08 on coffee...oh yeah. But $3.00 for a doughnut? Well, I could....but today that's a bit too much for what it's worth (sometimes it's worth EVERY penny). But today, I would rather spend that money on something else!

Does anybody else look at their daily calories like it's cash? I find making decisions and quantifying foods by how much it "costs" kinda fun and making my "money" last all day long.
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Replies

  • mlyn627
    mlyn627 Posts: 104 Member
    YES! I do the same thing! :) It's a little like sticking to a budget!
  • maidentl
    maidentl Posts: 3,203 Member
    Yes! In fact, that's why I won't do WW. A friend tried to talk me into it and my take was that I understand why they "weight" the points but I can police myself. Most days a banana is just fine when I want something something sweet, but if I DO want chocolate I'd like to not be "charged extra" because I chose chocolate. :laugh:
  • sr2107
    sr2107 Posts: 23
    I love this idea!! Great way to think about it!
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,630 Member
    I absolutely do! My calories are my currency and I'm fairly frugal.
  • Lol that's a fun way to look at it....
  • firefoxxie
    firefoxxie Posts: 381 Member
    lol I do the same thing! It makes it more fun!
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,630 Member
    Going to the gym for me is like making more money :) Except, I determine how much I'm going to get paid.
  • shexy16
    shexy16 Posts: 68
    That's a cool idea :-) I'm just as crappy with my money as I am my eating though :-\
    but I may try it!
  • I've overspent today...by $00.15...Lol my daily allowance is $16.50 :wink:
  • parkscs
    parkscs Posts: 1,639 Member
    Alas, I tend to be more frugal with my calories than with my cash. :tongue:
  • jagi410
    jagi410 Posts: 97 Member
    This is one of the best ideas I've ever read on MFP. Bravo OP!
  • QuillensMom
    QuillensMom Posts: 100 Member
    Never thought of it this way, could be fun to try a different approach for sure :)
  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    $16.20 on wine?

    OOOOOKAY! :drinker:
  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    Alas, I tend to be more frugal with my calories than with my cash. :tongue:
    Ditto.
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,273 Member
    I guess if that helps you...
    You're just subbing one analogy for another...shrug.
    Calories are just an arbitrary analogy in the human mind since we don't sense what one is anyway.
  • maidentl
    maidentl Posts: 3,203 Member
    I guess if that helps you...
    You're just subbing one analogy for another...shrug.
    Calories are just an arbitrary analogy in the human mind since we don't sense what one is anyway.

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  • LilyBentley2013
    LilyBentley2013 Posts: 25 Member
    I have in fact referred to them as "sandwich dollars" to other people before.
    They always seem to know what I mean. 8)
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,273 Member
    re: maidentl

    Some people are easily amused...
    To each his own.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    I do that! It's up to me how to spend it, but I can use it wisely, and still have some left for the fun stuff. Makes me feel both free, and responsible :bigsmile:
  • MsHarryWinston
    MsHarryWinston Posts: 1,027 Member
    This is brilliant! Tonight I'm spending $1 on icecream and $5 on steak dinner. It seems more than fair! :D
  • astroophys
    astroophys Posts: 175 Member
    That's an awesome way to look at it!!
  • Tybear73
    Tybear73 Posts: 20 Member
    Mr. 1800 posts....“If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?” What you said ~may~ be true and you weren't unkind but your comment was unnecessary. Remember, this is a place to encourage, build each other up and to share helpful or new ways of looking at things. If somebody says something that doesn't ring your bell you don't necessarily need to let them know unless you have something constructive or new to say.
  • SandyBVTN
    SandyBVTN Posts: 367 Member
    I don't necessarily think of it as money, but I definitely budget it better than I do cash!

    That's why pre-log my food most days and swap out foods for what I REALLY want to spend my cals on.
  • amandzor
    amandzor Posts: 386 Member
    Yes! This is exactly how I treat my calories.

    I confuse some people when I'm like "Nope, too expensive." and I'm not talking $, I'm talking Cals.

    I'd wondered if anyone else thought of it like this!
  • newhealthykim
    newhealthykim Posts: 192 Member
    No, but I get it. I'm glad you found something that works for you. I do totally understand spending the calories though. One day this week I had my 4th slice of supreme pizza (it's a small pizza). Usually I only eat 3, but OMG that day I totally needed that 4th piece, and it was so worth it.
  • Good to know i am not the only one to do this..
    I am a budget nut so i treat calories like this cause my brain can understand and follow..
    So far its doing pretty good for me
  • Basilin
    Basilin Posts: 360 Member
    My problem is I always get dinged with hidden fees. :laugh:
  • SlimJanette
    SlimJanette Posts: 597 Member
    That is a great way to think of it!
  • How funny, i only started my journey with MFP on Monday, and have looked at it that way since the beginning…i have fun looking at my diary in the morning and figuring out what i can spend my pounds on! (UK here). I also love the idea of working out to 'earn more money to spend on something nice' :D
  • shapefitter
    shapefitter Posts: 900 Member
    Before I joined MFP, I lived on £6 a week/less than £1 a day. That's about 12 dollars a week. In the last year, I've worked very hard to get healthy again. I now spend about £2 a day, sometimes more, to make sure I get a varied combination of nutritious food. Today, I ate out, and spent £2.95 and had a coffee for 99 pence with free refill :) cake is for the wend, if I haven't already spent my budget :tongue: