oh and right on about cooking your own food. the big joke about "guys not being able to cook" is BS
with sites like foodtv.com you can do anything simple or complicated. it's simple steps, just like building a TV cabinet. i find it MUCH easier to whip out a few pans, saute up whatever, it's relaxing to chop veggies, and i can have dinner cooking by the time i'd be seated at a restaurant.
in addition to being car free, a great way to save money is to be concientious about where and how often you eat out.
i love having breakfast at the diner by my house, or going our for sushi, but i always know what i'm going to have, how much i'll spend, and limit myself to places that serve GOOD food.
even traveling my backpack is filled with cliff bars, bananas, apples, tuna cans and crackers