I doubt that cooking at home is cheaper than eating out

[Anonymous]

I've been trying to persuade myself to cook more at home. But when I cook, it takes at least an hour to prepare a decent meal. I am alone in the kitchen and tired afterwards. Our child is not interested in cooking, so it is not a pleasant family moment of being together and teaching life skills.

Then the kitchen looks like a mess and I spend another 30 minutes cleaning up.

I am an attorney and work from home. My hourly rate is $625. I always have more than enough work. I keep thinking that instead of cooking I could have cleared $1000 during the same time. That is an expensive meal!

Driving to a restaurant and waiting for the food takes time, too, but we always have pleasant conversations in the car and at the table. So that, to me, would be much more worth it, even if I don't do billable work during that time.

From an economic point of view it seems to me that ordering in is the best option. Saves time, and I can get work done if I don't feel like driving to a restaurant.

What is your take on this?

[Anonymous]

It's healthier, which will save you money in the long run. And you can't/shouldn't work all the time. You can also have "pleasant conversations" while you cook and clean up.

[Anonymous]

1. You raised a twat
2. You are lazy
3. Sodium in food out is insane
4. Your math skills suck

I make more than your hourly in half a day.

No one cares if you what to eat out

You can afford it. Still stupid

[Anonymous]

There is a balance to be achieved. You should be able to prepare meals in less than an hour. Maybe you need to find some other recipes. I mostly clean up at the same time I am cooking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I've been trying to persuade myself to cook more at home. But when I cook, it takes at least an hour to prepare a decent meal. I am alone in the kitchen and tired afterwards. Our child is not interested in cooking, so it is not a pleasant family moment of being together and teaching life skills.

Then the kitchen looks like a mess and I spend another 30 minutes cleaning up.

I am an attorney and work from home. My hourly rate is $625. I always have more than enough work. I keep thinking that instead of cooking I could have cleared $1000 during the same time. That is an expensive meal!

Driving to a restaurant and waiting for the food takes time, too, but we always have pleasant conversations in the car and at the table. So that, to me, would be much more worth it, even if I don't do billable work during that time.

From an economic point of view it seems to me that ordering in is the best option. Saves time, and I can get work done if I don't feel like driving to a restaurant.

What is your take on this?

If this is true and you could have actually billed during the time you were cooking, then it's a no-brainer. Order out or even pay someone to come home and cook for you. You may have to pay for 4 hours or so but they will cook at home and you freeze it and eat over the course of the week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I've been trying to persuade myself to cook more at home. But when I cook, it takes at least an hour to prepare a decent meal. I am alone in the kitchen and tired afterwards. Our child is not interested in cooking, so it is not a pleasant family moment of being together and teaching life skills.

Then the kitchen looks like a mess and I spend another 30 minutes cleaning up.

I am an attorney and work from home. My hourly rate is $625. I always have more than enough work. I keep thinking that instead of cooking I could have cleared $1000 during the same time. That is an expensive meal!

Driving to a restaurant and waiting for the food takes time, too, but we always have pleasant conversations in the car and at the table. So that, to me, would be much more worth it, even if I don't do billable work during that time.

From an economic point of view it seems to me that ordering in is the best option. Saves time, and I can get work done if I don't feel like driving to a restaurant.

What is your take on this?

I'm a busy attorney too. This kind of thinking -- and ordering in and eating in restaurants -- led to significant weight gain for me. Cook at home and you can control your diet -- including portion sizes and what is in your food. Yes, it is tiring and cleaning up is a PITA -- but as you note, it generally takes less time than going out. Meal prep helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. You raised a twat
2. You are lazy
3. Sodium in food out is insane
4. Your math skills suck

I make more than your hourly in half a day.

No one cares if you what to eat out

You can afford it. Still stupid

OP here. Great, after barely two minutes the onslaught of insults has begun. Maybe I should be cooking instead right now. Even if I don't like it, it would be more pleasant than reading a response like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]1. You raised a twat
2. You are lazy
3. Sodium in food out is insane
4. Your math skills suck

I make more than your hourly in half a day.

No one cares if you what to eat out

You can afford it. Still stupid
[/b]

Not OP, but please leave this site and go somewhere else where your "talents" may be better appreciated, huh?

[Anonymous]

If you are forgoing $625/h to cook dinner then it is clearly not the best option economically for you.

Whatever is fastest is going to be the best from an economic standpoint.

But restaurant food is often less healthy than home cooked food. So that is another consideration. If I were you, and assuming you live in the DMV, I'd have Vegetable + Butcher delivered every night.

[Anonymous]

At that income you probably have a cook and household help. Lets not pretend you are doing it yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I've been trying to persuade myself to cook more at home. But when I cook, it takes at least an hour to prepare a decent meal. I am alone in the kitchen and tired afterwards. Our child is not interested in cooking, so it is not a pleasant family moment of being together and teaching life skills.

Then the kitchen looks like a mess and I spend another 30 minutes cleaning up.

I am an attorney and work from home. My hourly rate is $625. I always have more than enough work. I keep thinking that instead of cooking I could have cleared $1000 during the same time. That is an expensive meal!

Driving to a restaurant and waiting for the food takes time, too, but we always have pleasant conversations in the car and at the table. So that, to me, would be much more worth it, even if I don't do billable work during that time.

From an economic point of view it seems to me that ordering in is the best option. Saves time, and I can get work done if I don't feel like driving to a restaurant.

What is your take on this?

I'm a busy attorney too. This kind of thinking -- and ordering in and eating in restaurants -- led to significant weight gain for me. Cook at home and you can control your diet -- including portion sizes and what is in your food. Yes, it is tiring and cleaning up is a PITA -- but as you note, it generally takes less time than going out. Meal prep helps.

100% - not an attorney but similar pay band. Similar thinking, particularly during Covid… meal time was the only time to not work… now trying to get out of it.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what you are eating. My grocery bill is $1500 for two adults and two teens with four different dietary restrictions. If I crave something the other three family members can’t eat, it’s cheaper for me to order it from a restaurant than to buy all of the special ingredients.

[Anonymous]

A meal service might be a good compromise.

You can find quicker meals and you can make more so you have leftovers.

I think you're just trying to rationalize not cooking. You don't need to do it every day but eating out every day is generally an unhealthy choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At that income you probably have a cook and household help. Lets not pretend you are doing it yourself.

OP here. I have a part-time housecleaner, but she does not cook. Plus, I don't work full-time, because I pick up my kid at 3 pm, etc.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s cheaper and healthier for my family to cook and eat at home but you can pay for convenience yourself if you want to.

Basically I want to be off the clock at work and at home with my family during that time so I’m not considering my hourly rate. But you do you! There’s no wrong answer.