Courtesy of the author
I used to love ordering food. Working from home in Southern California meant I was at my desk at all hours of the day, and when hunger struck, my solution for everything was tapping that DoorDash icon on my phone. Late nights, early mornings, mid-afternoon slumps, DoorDash was my go-to for every meal. It was my daily routine, and I never thought twice about it.
Until my 2024 year-end summary arrived, and I nearly fell off my chair.
I had spent a staggering $10,952.14 on DoorDash alone, which is 195 separate orders averaging around $56 each. Now, I’m on track to save over $10,000 this year by breaking the habit that was draining my wallet without me even noticing.
The health wake-up call that finally made me look at my wallet
My spending habits might have continued indefinitely if my body hadn’t sounded the alarm. Last July, what I thought was a simple doctor’s visit for a lingering cough turned into a major wake-up call. My A1C level was 14.9, dangerously high and a clear indicator of diabetes.
Surprisingly, my first reaction wasn’t to immediately quit DoorDash. In fact, I did the opposite. Before my diagnosis (January to June), I had spent $4,256.44 on 76 orders. After the health scare, from July through December, I actually increased to $6,695.70 on 119 orders.
Courtesy of the author
After my diagnosis, I made one immediate financial decision: I signed up for a UFC Gym membership on July 19. At $158 for the first payment, followed by regular monthly fees of $134, this was an investment in my health.
That gym membership delivered returns that my DoorDash spending never could. By October, my A1C had dropped from 14.9 to 7.4, my doctor called it “almost at goal.”
Where was all that DoorDash money really going
The eye-opening part was seeing exactly what those thousands of dollars bought me. Here’s a snapshot of my spending before and after my diagnosis:
On February 15, I ordered from DashMart: Lemon Lime Soda, Guava Nectar, Strawberry Banana Nectar, and Classic Cola for $79.68. Two days later, it was McDonald’s: 20-piece McNuggets, Oreo McFlurry, and a Double Quarter Pounder for $66.97. In March, it was L&L Hawaiian BBQ Chicken for $61.86, plus a massive DashMart order with chips, Cheetos, and Doritos for $243.94.
By August, some orders started to change. I spent $46.15 at Sprouts Farmers Market for healthier options like blueberries, hummus, and celery. But old habits die hard. On the same day, I ordered from Island Hut ($59.05) and then later added shaved ice from Wanna Chill ($56.87). Even in October, my DoorDash habits showed a mix of better choices and old comforts. I ordered Atlantic Salmon from California Fish Grill ($42.82), but then the same day got dessert from King’s Hawaiian ($46.23).
The unexpected bonus of better health
The real change to my wallet happened when 2025 began. I finally tackled my spending head-on by cooking more at home and limiting DoorDash to special occasions only.
So far in 2025, I’ve placed just five DoorDash orders, spending only $146.74 total. If I maintain this pace, I’m on track to spend under $900 on DoorDash for the entire year, a savings of over $10,000 compared to 2024.
Courtesy of the author
The money I’ve saved has been incredible, but honestly, it’s the health transformation that’s been life-changing. My latest glucose reading shows a 6.5% average over the last 30 days, down from that dangerous 14.9% less than a year ago.
What surprised me most was how breaking my DoorDash habit reset my relationship with food entirely. I no longer use food delivery as an emotional crutch or reward system. My body feels different, my energy levels have stabilized, and I’m finally treating food as nourishment rather than comfort.
Seeing my health improve while not spending as much has made it completely worthwhile. My only regret is not doing it sooner; that’s $10,952.14 I’ll never get back.
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