Bootstrapping with Cheap Food

by Winnie on Jul.27, 2010, under Favourites, Posts

Like with most other companies that are starting out, our company revenue hasn’t reached the millions and the founders aren’t getting paid much. As a result, founders need to find a way to sustain themselves and often times it is through bootstrapping.

I am a ~~horrible~~ bad cook and for convenience, I eat out a lot. As you can imagine, for someone who eats 70% of her meals out, food is one of the biggest expenses. But it is also where costs could be reduced. I have never been a fan of the ‘extra’ junk that come into the mail, but recently I have learned to appreciate them. The coupons books for pizza , McDonald’s and from other fast-food chains now have found a way on my dining table than in the recycling bin. I have come to appreciate the $1.50 Mama burger (although I prefer the Teen Burger with some bacon, but I’m going to be accepting for now).

However, the most memorable meals so far have been at Bon’s, which is a restaurant 5-minute drive from our office.

Yup that’s right: $2.95 all-day breakfast and that’s including tax too! It comes with eggs, sausage / bacon, fried potato slices and toast. Bottom line: it is tasty, filling and cheap. Obviously at this price you can’t expect a nice view out the windows or world-class service. In fact the restaurant is somewhat sketchy, with writings all over the walls and seats that are ripped up. Want water? Gotta grab it yourself at the front. Nonetheless, we enjoy going there because that place has such an unique character and these $2.95 meals will be missed after the move to our new office location.

:bootstrapping, breakfast, coupon, food, startup

6 comments for this entry:

Spencer
July 27th, 2010 on 10:30 am
Haha that’s awesome Winnie! I will have to and try that out when I get a chance.
Stanley Lee
July 27th, 2010 on 10:27 pm
Although I agree with you on a short-term basis, long-term wise, bootstrapping on food isn’t that beneficial from time-expenditure and health perspectives. Eating out other than truly organic places is detrimental to your wallet and your wallet (through health deterioration). If you haven’t come across Jamie Oliver’s show or TED talk, http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/putting-leo-babautas-society-reimagined-into-practice/ should be a good starter. I’m also planning to learn how to cook better once my contract is up and I slowly stream-line my 4HWW lifestyle with my personal ventures.
Matt
July 28th, 2010 on 3:43 pm
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/recipe-roundup/slow-good-17-incredible-recipes-for-the-slow-cooker-114880

Sounds like a slow cooker would be your friend! The appliance itself costs like $30, and you can make chili or pasta sauce or pot roast or something totally open-loop — the workflow:

1) put ingredients into slow cooker
2) turn on
3) go to sleep or go to work
4) >6 hours later (I keep things overnight), eat.

Best past is that there are leftovers for days afterward!
Winnie
July 29th, 2010 on 1:02 am
Thanks for the suggestions guys! I actually got a slow cooker at home, but I’ve never used it again after the first use. I guess I’ve been too lazy when it comes to cooking, BUT that’s going to change starting tomorrow! I made a trip to the supermarket tonight and stocked up, so I’m going to start cooking meals
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