I stopped eating out and I don't think I'm going back

[Anonymous]

For January, I wanted to eat exclusively at home, which I mostly accomplished save a couple of small things while traveling and a very lavish dinner for a friend. Otherwise, all meals for the family have been prepared and eaten at home, and my wallet is fatter, I'm slimmer and SO much happier. I don't see myself going back to takeout/eating out multiple times a week anytime soon. Anyone else?

[Anonymous]

For us, the biggest shift was during the early pandemic when you didn't even know if takeout was safe. we went 6 weeks where we didn't eat a single meal that we hadn't cooked ourselves.

Now, it's a bit of a balance. We love food in general (both cooking at home and dining out/trying new things) so we definitely cook more than we did pre-pandemic, but we still enjoy going out. We are fairly elaborate home cooks though, and do wine pairings, etc. for our at-home dinners so it's not necessarily a huge difference in the finance department.

[Anonymous]

I rarely eat out and also experience the positives you listed except for the slimmer part. Sometimes when I'm hungry I think of something from a restaurant that would taste great but then I think of what I have at home and decide to save the money and I enjoy the meal just as much. I find it is key to have stuff you like to eat at home, that makes the decision easy.

I really think all these tip complainers should stop eating out at all until someone fixes the tip situation for them. Whether that happens or not it will still be beneficial to their wallet, health and happiness.

[Anonymous]

We stopped too. And our cooking skills improved. So that makes it easier to cook at home.

[Anonymous]

Same. I'm so disappointed by restaurant food. And the service is really sub par now even though the tips are increasing.

Key for us has been having a few things that we can cook in less than 15 min. Like I make a big batch of something and freeze a portion that I can pull out.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t make any sort of real resolution on this, but the expense of eating out/door dash finally got to be way too much, and I just stopped doing it. It was surprisingly easy to do and yeah, feels much better! Even today when I had a craving for a deli sandwich I couldn’t bring myself to pay $30 to doordash it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We stopped too. And our cooking skills improved. So that makes it easier to cook at home.

yep, my cooking skills have improved too. I have a fairly picky tween so I’ve learned a lot of basics, like juicy pork chops, steak, perfect baked potato.

[Anonymous]

I have no eaten out at all since 2020 not even fast food. I don't miss it one bit and I feel healthier too.

[Anonymous]

It seems like a meal that used to cost $150 pre-pandemic is now edging toward $300, with higher prices for everything (or fixed menus), surcharges and bigger tip expectations. We used to eat out twice a week, but now it’s maybe twice a month. We just don’t enjoy it as much anymore—and the disappointment is bigger when the meal doesn’t quite measure up.

[Anonymous]

I fully agree though I like my own cooking too much, so it doesn't make me slimmer.

[Anonymous]

I now eat out for socializing or when traveling, but not for regular meals with family. It got too be too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For January, I wanted to eat exclusively at home, which I mostly accomplished save a couple of small things while traveling and a very lavish dinner for a friend. Otherwise, all meals for the family have been prepared and eaten at home, and my wallet is fatter, I'm slimmer and SO much happier. I don't see myself going back to takeout/eating out multiple times a week anytime soon. Anyone else?

Translation: I can’t afford to dine out.

This thread is a cope. Sure, some meals out are clunkers. Who cares. I doubt every meal you prepare is amazing.

[Anonymous]

I also did this for January, but I'm having the opposite result - I'm dying for "outside" food! I miss the convenience and some of my fave spots.

[Anonymous]

We stopped eating out long ago, right when the pandemic started. We’ve never really gone back. We only do occasional takeout from our favorite Chinese place, occasional lunch at Ethiopian restaurants and social obligations that we cannot avoid. We haven’t missed it in the least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For January, I wanted to eat exclusively at home, which I mostly accomplished save a couple of small things while traveling and a very lavish dinner for a friend. Otherwise, all meals for the family have been prepared and eaten at home, and my wallet is fatter, I'm slimmer and SO much happier. I don't see myself going back to takeout/eating out multiple times a week anytime soon. Anyone else?

Translation: I can’t afford to dine out.

This thread is a cope. Sure, some meals out are clunkers. Who cares. I doubt every meal you prepare is amazing.

Most restaurant meals are very meh too, so
I don’t know what point you’re trying to make.