Instead of going out to dinner, buy good food. Cooking at home shows such affection. In a bad economy, it’s more important to make yourself feel good.

The remark frames home cooking as both an economic strategy and an emotional practice. Rather than treating dining out as the default “treat,” it suggests redirecting limited resources toward higher-quality ingredients and the intimate labor of cooking—acts that can feel more personal and sustaining than restaurant consumption. The line about “affection” emphasizes hospitality and care: preparing food becomes a way of nurturing oneself and others. In the context of financial strain, the quote argues that morale matters; small, deliberate comforts—like a well-cooked meal—can restore agency and pleasure when larger circumstances feel uncontrollable.