I feel like this kind of a-ha moment post is less useful here, a 16+ site where most users seem to have some kind of a grasp on adulthood, than other places. But I still like posting about things as I realize they've changed my life for the better.
If you're struggling with home cooking, you should try to remember the prices of foods! You should know how much they cost right now, at the store and in your fridge. You should learn to calculate your ingredient usage, like "I'm using $.50 of sausage in this recipe, and altogether this is a $3.50 dish" as you are putting breakfast together. Not just to keep your spending in your active thoughts, but because it REALLY brings to the forefront how much money you're saving by cooking at home. It's a huge draw to sticking to home cooking.