Do you need a Maker in your life?

[Samudera Darussalam]

We can work on that.

…Thanks, I think?

Also theres always Microwaves in case of an low blood sugar emergency.

This is very true.

You can always learn bud. Start with simple stuffs - such as fried eggs, then you can start to make other things. It's a long road, but it's useful

I used the word nigh for a reason. I am not that incompetent.

Yes, I'm just messing with you.
Have a good time learning!

[US-SSR]

When I was working 55+ hours a week I ate out almost every weeknight. It was a nice feeling to have someone bringing something to me for a change, even just a meal and an adult beverage.

These days with a more human schedule I make dinner for the family almost every night. We have a stove, range, microwave, air fryer and Instant Pot.

The one kitchen appliance I've never understood is the toaster oven. I have a toaster that toasts better and an oven that is a better oven; why do I need an appliance that does these two jobs worse than the appliances I already own?

[The Republic of Fore]

I have no desire to cook, I eat takeout mostly.

[Risottia]

I have a panini maker and a blender and I barely use either.

A "panini maker"?

That is a machine that slices ciabatta for you?

[Valentine Z]

Tbh I was surprised Valentine. Thanks for the unexpected turn.

Well, I do have a rice cooker at my room during my stay at the city where my college is located at. Having one to cook rice saves time and it's more efficient in terms of space and others. Sometimes I use that rice cooker to heat things too when I want to eat warm.

Hmm. I usually go out for lunch, but I usually eat at the boarding house for breakfast and dinner. I don't cook, but I usually has some dried foods packed when I'm coming back from home. Though, when I feel like it, sometimes I go out to eat for dinner when I feel lazy to cook rice.

As for the financial question, I save more when I'm eating at home, as I don't have to spend more money for eating.

TL;DR, I guess I've a mix of both, but I'm still eating at home more than going out for eating.

Haha, when I usually go into NSG, it's partially for politics, but more for chances like this.

"Meet your maker. The Coffee Maker. It's gonna save you the time of going to a coffee shop."

Anyway, a rice cooker sounds like a good idea, to be honest. I probably should have one in case hunger strikes me in the middle of my studies.

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

I've got a blender, which I use for liquidising onions, garlic and ginger to make a curry sauce. I've had it about 40 years now, and it is the most used of my kitchen gadgets.
I have a food processor, which occasionally gets used for mixing dough or pastry. Also an ice cream maker which gets used to make ice cream and sorbets maybe once or twice a year. Not a gadget, but I find it very useful , is my pizza stone.

[Forsher]

Anyone who saves money or spends as much by eating out, is preparing food at home wrong.

Step one... turn shopping into either a regular part of your commute or stop using expensive means of shopping (i.e. start Quaxing). I mean, yes, not everyone can walk to the supermarket (let alone multiple ones) but if you're driving to work unless you work more rurally than you live (rare) you're passing a shop at some point.

Step two... exploit left overs or realise that you save money by spending half your break preparing food; can't splurge your pay cheque shopping.

Now, I'm incredibly slow at preparing mostly from scratch meals so I eat quite a lot of tinned soups (which is not a particularly cost effective way of doing things here: 2 for $5 is a good deal, in the UK you can get a nice tin of soup for 80p, which is like $1.60 here). But most people are not slow enough or time poor enough to make the time cost balance out... especially once you factor in waiting times for eating out.

And, I mean, there's always sandwiches and cereal... although milk shoves the cost of the latter up a lot (8L for $10 is not a great conversion rate, also you have to buy 8L of milk).

[Valentine Z]

Anyone who saves money or spends as much by eating out, is preparing food at home wrong.

Step one... turn shopping into either a regular part of your commute or stop using expensive means of shopping (i.e. start Quaxing). I mean, yes, not everyone can walk to the supermarket (let alone multiple ones) but if you're driving to work unless you work more rurally than you live (rare) you're passing a shop at some point.

Step two... exploit left overs or realise that you save money by spending half your break preparing food; can't splurge your pay cheque shopping.

Now, I'm incredibly slow at preparing mostly from scratch meals so I eat quite a lot of tinned soups (which is not a particularly cost effective way of doing things here: 2 for $5 is a good deal, in the UK you can get a nice tin of soup for 80p, which is like $1.60 here). But most people are not slow enough or time poor enough to make the time cost balance out... especially once you factor in waiting times for eating out.

And, I mean, there's always sandwiches and cereal... although milk shoves the cost of the latter up a lot (8L for $10 is not a great conversion rate, also you have to buy 8L of milk).

Some amount of money is saved from home-cooking, but... considering the costs in Singapore as aforementioned, you might as well go out and eat to save yourself the cost of utilities and the washing.

Though still, it's kinda a "Your Mileage May Vary" thing. A lot of Singaporeans hunt around for the best and greatest deals when eating out, or they cook in a rather efficient way.

With that said, a supermarket is still the best way to get groceries because of their constant discounts and deals, and my family and I almost always finish our leftovers. Cook a large amount, then save the rest in the fridge until it's all gone.

Homecooked food is still the best and relatively cheaper option, but sometimes... meh, I can't be bothered to cook. ^^;

[Valentine Z]

I also stand corrected on the difference between homecooked and eating out costs. I did some rough math and even with the utilities, cooking at home, if it lasts you for a few days, is definitely cheaper.

Though, with my school life and being away from home, it's not out of money, just out of choice and I don't like cooking alone.

[Forsher]

My cooking prowess is nigh nonexistent, but I try.

We can work on that. Also theres always Microwaves in case of an low blood sugar emergency.

Not everyone is a microwave person.

And I don't want to restart an IRL conversation about whether ovens or microwaves are better, but ovens are better.

[Forsher]

I also stand corrected on the difference between homecooked and eating out costs. I did some rough math and even with the utilities, cooking at home, if it lasts you for a few days, is definitely cheaper.

Though, with my school life and being away from home, it's not out of money, just out of choice and I don't like cooking alone.

Well, cooking can take up as much time as a reading. One less reading for one piece of assessment could have a quite outsized impact on your marks, which could potentially have enormous financial consequences.

[Valentine Z]

I also stand corrected on the difference between homecooked and eating out costs. I did some rough math and even with the utilities, cooking at home, if it lasts you for a few days, is definitely cheaper.

Though, with my school life and being away from home, it's not out of money, just out of choice and I don't like cooking alone.

Well, cooking can take up as much time as a reading. One less reading for one piece of assessment could have a quite outsized impact on your marks, which could potentially have enormous financial consequences.

Yup, totally because of that.

[Arevastan]

I also stand corrected on the difference between homecooked and eating out costs. I did some rough math and even with the utilities, cooking at home, if it lasts you for a few days, is definitely cheaper.

Though, with my school life and being away from home, it's not out of money, just out of choice and I don't like cooking alone.

Well, cooking can take up as much time as a reading. One less reading for one piece of assessment could have a quite outsized impact on your marks, which could potentially have enormous financial consequences.

If cooking prevents you from reading your assignments and hampers your studies... I'm pretty confident it's not the cooking that's the culprit, but lack of organizational skills and improper time management.

[Valentine Z]

Well, cooking can take up as much time as a reading. One less reading for one piece of assessment could have a quite outsized impact on your marks, which could potentially have enormous financial consequences.

If cooking prevents you from reading your assignments and hampers your studies... I'm pretty confident it's not the cooking that's the culprit, but lack of organizational skills and improper time management.

I don't exactly have the best time management skills, so touche on that. ^^;

At the same time, I would defend myself that university is pretty intensive, so it would not hamper too damn much on my studies, but enough for a small dent.

[Thepeopl]

For very high gas prices: cooking in a hay box
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haybox

And cooking for you alone can be very depressing.
I tend to make 3 dishes at once in those days and freeze the meals until needed.

(So I would make a salad for day 1, a stew for day 3 and a quiche for day 2)

[Kernen]

Homemade. From scratch. Even beans, coffee grounds, pasta, stocks. I even prefer to buy sides of meat and break them down when it works out.

I think the only thing I preferentially buy pre-made is puff pastry, because you can't easily tell the difference between homemade and frozen.

[Luziyca]

I have to admit, my family has been ordering in a lot, especially when we have the funds to do so because we don't feel like cooking. When we do cook, we do have rice cookers, and of course, my dad does rely on the Tassimo for his coffee.

As for beverages, I generally just buy Coca-Cola, since my mother and I drink a lot of that stuff. Are we going to live long? Probably not.

[Kernen]

I also stand corrected on the difference between homecooked and eating out costs. I did some rough math and even with the utilities, cooking at home, if it lasts you for a few days, is definitely cheaper.

Though, with my school life and being away from home, it's not out of money, just out of choice and I don't like cooking alone.

Well, cooking can take up as much time as a reading. One less reading for one piece of assessment could have a quite outsized impact on your marks, which could potentially have enormous financial consequences.

I would read my textbooks while I cooked.

[Sundiata]

I love coffeemakers.

I remember attending a conference that my priest was conducting. The coffee was fantastic, especially with this pumpkin-spice creamer that they had. Our level of technological advancement has allowed for such amazing gifts to humankind.

Great stuff!

[Trollgaard]

I need a microwave and a regular oven in my kitchen. That's it.

[Kernen]

I love coffeemakers.

I remember attending a conference that my priest was conducting. The coffee was fantastic, especially with this pumpkin-spice creamer that they had. Our level of technological advancement has allowed for such amazing gifts to humankind.

Great stuff!

The best coffee you can make is in a french press from beans you just ground. Hands down the best. I can't do coffee pot coffee anymore. You should give it a shot sometime.

[Nakena]

We can work on that. Also theres always Microwaves in case of an low blood sugar emergency.

Not everyone is a microwave person.

And I don't want to restart an IRL conversation about whether ovens or microwaves are better, but ovens are better.

I have a microwave-oven combo.

[Senkaku]

My uni has a dining hall that usually produces edible food, and my dorm's kitchen facilities are... I think spartan would be the most flattering possible description, so I'm not cooking much. Once I get my own place I imagine I'll need a rice cooker and a coffee maker, and obviously stoves and ovens are good to have (I like cooking for myself, since I'm not half bad at it, and once I cannot rely on university dining plans, it'll definitely be cheaper than eating out all the time). Ice machines are nice, but not necessary (I just don't like filling those little tray things and then waiting).

Also, cute wordplay with the title.

Financially, it's more or less the same. Eating out is expensive, but so is cooking at home. I mean, sure, it's cost-efficient and you can re-heat the leftovers for a good few days, but when you calculate the cost of gas, washing, etc... it all kinda adds up to the typical cost of eating outside.

where the hell do YOU live this sounds like a paradise

If I ate out in NYC or Seattle all the time I'd be broke in like two months lol

[Xuloqoia]

My uni has a dining hall that usually produces edible food, and my dorm's kitchen facilities are... I think spartan would be the most flattering possible description, so I'm not cooking much. Once I get my own place I imagine I'll need a rice cooker and a coffee maker, and obviously stoves and ovens are good to have (I like cooking for myself, since I'm not half bad at it, and once I cannot rely on university dining plans, it'll definitely be cheaper than eating out all the time). Ice machines are nice, but not necessary (I just don't like filling those little tray things and then waiting).

Also, cute wordplay with the title.

Financially, it's more or less the same. Eating out is expensive, but so is cooking at home. I mean, sure, it's cost-efficient and you can re-heat the leftovers for a good few days, but when you calculate the cost of gas, washing, etc... it all kinda adds up to the typical cost of eating outside.

where the hell do YOU live this sounds like a paradise

If I ate out in NYC or Seattle all the time I'd be broke in like two months lol

IIRC, Valentine Z is Singaporean.

[Senkaku]

My uni has a dining hall that usually produces edible food, and my dorm's kitchen facilities are... I think spartan would be the most flattering possible description, so I'm not cooking much. Once I get my own place I imagine I'll need a rice cooker and a coffee maker, and obviously stoves and ovens are good to have (I like cooking for myself, since I'm not half bad at it, and once I cannot rely on university dining plans, it'll definitely be cheaper than eating out all the time). Ice machines are nice, but not necessary (I just don't like filling those little tray things and then waiting).

Also, cute wordplay with the title.

where the hell do YOU live this sounds like a paradise

If I ate out in NYC or Seattle all the time I'd be broke in like two months lol

IIRC, Valentine Z is Singaporean.

I thought Singapore was expensive too! Either that or groceries and utilities there are like, super pricey