How are people still able to afford eating out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 middle school girls. A lot of the discretionary food budget goes to them wanting to get Starbucks, Canes, sushi with their friends, etc. it’s expensive and adds up. I don’t need to spend money on myself for that kind of quick casual. DH and I go out to dinner a few times a year and it’s always nice but also just so expensive. We cook a lot at home.

I’ll add, we ski all winter (we live in CO now). We always set aside budget for lodge lunches which are a racket. I usually eat a protein bar in my ski bag and whatever my kids don’t finish. I don’t even consider myself cheap but am floored at the cost of eating out.

This is silly. You give your kids a weekly budget, and after that they get a job and pay for it. Learn to say no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 middle school girls. A lot of the discretionary food budget goes to them wanting to get Starbucks, Canes, sushi with their friends, etc. it’s expensive and adds up. I don’t need to spend money on myself for that kind of quick casual. DH and I go out to dinner a few times a year and it’s always nice but also just so expensive. We cook a lot at home.

I’ll add, we ski all winter (we live in CO now). We always set aside budget for lodge lunches which are a racket. I usually eat a protein bar in my ski bag and whatever my kids don’t finish. I don’t even consider myself cheap but am floored at the cost of eating out.

This is silly. You give your kids a weekly budget, and after that they get a job and pay for it. Learn to say no.

Um. It’s not silly if I don’t care that they are taking the discretionary budget. No where in here am I suggesting I never say no or they don’t do chores. Unclench.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 middle school girls. A lot of the discretionary food budget goes to them wanting to get Starbucks, Canes, sushi with their friends, etc. it’s expensive and adds up. I don’t need to spend money on myself for that kind of quick casual. DH and I go out to dinner a few times a year and it’s always nice but also just so expensive. We cook a lot at home.

I’ll add, we ski all winter (we live in CO now). We always set aside budget for lodge lunches which are a racket. I usually eat a protein bar in my ski bag and whatever my kids don’t finish. I don’t even consider myself cheap but am floored at the cost of eating out.

This is silly. You give your kids a weekly budget, and after that they get a job and pay for it. Learn to say no.

Um. It’s not silly if I don’t care that they are taking the discretionary budget. No where in here am I suggesting I never say no or they don’t do chores. Unclench.

It sounds pretty excessive. You cannot complain you don't eat out when you are constantly giving your kids money to. You just want to play victim.

[Anonymous]

Most people are terrible with money and live beyond their means. And then complain they can't afford things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 middle school girls. A lot of the discretionary food budget goes to them wanting to get Starbucks, Canes, sushi with their friends, etc. it’s expensive and adds up. I don’t need to spend money on myself for that kind of quick casual. DH and I go out to dinner a few times a year and it’s always nice but also just so expensive. We cook a lot at home.

I’ll add, we ski all winter (we live in CO now). We always set aside budget for lodge lunches which are a racket. I usually eat a protein bar in my ski bag and whatever my kids don’t finish. I don’t even consider myself cheap but am floored at the cost of eating out.

This is silly. You give your kids a weekly budget, and after that they get a job and pay for it. Learn to say no.

Um. It’s not silly if I don’t care that they are taking the discretionary budget. No where in here am I suggesting I never say no or they don’t do chores. Unclench.

It sounds pretty excessive. You cannot complain you don't eat out when you are constantly giving your kids money to. You just want to play victim.

Omg you are awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a great primary source of joy so we invest.

The correct word is “spend”. Eating out is not an investment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have pretty much quit eating out all together. I can no longer justify spending $17 for a wrap or sandwich from a truck even, $25 dollars for a plate of food that was $12 or $14 three years ago and that doesn't include tips. Also you're now expected to tip for even takeout. It used to be an occasional treat going out, but now it seems like a depressing experience. I am pretty much done with eating out these days. On the bright side, I am learning to cook just about anything I want. It's not perfect but close enough that I don't miss those things I used to get going out. To that I am wondering who here can still afford to eat out, and if so, do you feel like you're getting ripped off?

anyone "expecting" a tip can f right off and find another job. yes, we tip, and usually generously, but the expectation and nudging customers for tips is getting way out of hand!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 middle school girls. A lot of the discretionary food budget goes to them wanting to get Starbucks, Canes, sushi with their friends, etc. it’s expensive and adds up. I don’t need to spend money on myself for that kind of quick casual. DH and I go out to dinner a few times a year and it’s always nice but also just so expensive. We cook a lot at home.

I’ll add, we ski all winter (we live in CO now). We always set aside budget for lodge lunches which are a racket. I usually eat a protein bar in my ski bag and whatever my kids don’t finish. I don’t even consider myself cheap but am floored at the cost of eating out.

This is silly. You give your kids a weekly budget, and after that they get a job and pay for it. Learn to say no.

Um. It’s not silly if I don’t care that they are taking the discretionary budget. No where in here am I suggesting I never say no or they don’t do chores. Unclench.

It sounds pretty excessive. You cannot complain you don't eat out when you are constantly giving your kids money to. You just want to play victim.

Omg you are awful.

No, its silly to comment about the cost and you only eat a protein bar when you are skiing and kids are going to Starbucks and other places regularly. Mine wouldn't think to ask for starbucks, let alone regularly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have pretty much quit eating out all together. I can no longer justify spending $17 for a wrap or sandwich from a truck even, $25 dollars for a plate of food that was $12 or $14 three years ago and that doesn't include tips. Also you're now expected to tip for even takeout. It used to be an occasional treat going out, but now it seems like a depressing experience. I am pretty much done with eating out these days. On the bright side, I am learning to cook just about anything I want. It's not perfect but close enough that I don't miss those things I used to get going out. To that I am wondering who here can still afford to eat out, and if so, do you feel like you're getting ripped off?

anyone "expecting" a tip can f right off and find another job. yes, we tip, and usually generously, but the expectation and nudging customers for tips is getting way out of hand!

I don't tip on carry out or fast casual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, and I don’t mean this to be harsh? No, I don’t even notice. Our food budget has gone up but we are nowhere near close enough to the bone for me to pay attention or worry about it.

In fact, food has always cost “more” for me because I tip a lot.

I don’t even notice what dinner costs. I just do the tip arithmetic and sign.

Again, not trying to be harsh, just in the spirit of anonymous dcum honesty.

same

The lawyers and doctor's (or their wives) chime in!

Pray tell, why does "lawyers" not need an apostrophe but "doctor's" does.

[Anonymous]

My DH and I go out to dinner every weekend - it’s usually about $100. Sometimes we’ll have a family dinner instead. We spend an additional $50-$75 weekly on pizza take out, chipotle, or some other fast casual.

So $600-$700 a month on eating out, plus $1500/mo on groceries. We are a family of 4 with two teens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 middle school girls. A lot of the discretionary food budget goes to them wanting to get Starbucks, Canes, sushi with their friends, etc. it’s expensive and adds up. I don’t need to spend money on myself for that kind of quick casual. DH and I go out to dinner a few times a year and it’s always nice but also just so expensive. We cook a lot at home.

I’ll add, we ski all winter (we live in CO now). We always set aside budget for lodge lunches which are a racket. I usually eat a protein bar in my ski bag and whatever my kids don’t finish. I don’t even consider myself cheap but am floored at the cost of eating out.

This is silly. You give your kids a weekly budget, and after that they get a job and pay for it. Learn to say no.

Um. It’s not silly if I don’t care that they are taking the discretionary budget. No where in here am I suggesting I never say no or they don’t do chores. Unclench.

Do you always overreact or is it because you are hungry? Maybe you should eat something more than a protein bar or whatever your kid don't finish. Eating will help you regulate your emotions. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most people are terrible with money and live beyond their means. And then complain they can't afford things.

In wealthy DC enclaves? Cope all you want, those are actually people who have more money than they can spend. And restaurant tabs are on a company credit card or written off at the end of the year.

[Anonymous]

Never was one to go out to eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 middle school girls. A lot of the discretionary food budget goes to them wanting to get Starbucks, Canes, sushi with their friends, etc. it’s expensive and adds up. I don’t need to spend money on myself for that kind of quick casual. DH and I go out to dinner a few times a year and it’s always nice but also just so expensive. We cook a lot at home.

I’ll add, we ski all winter (we live in CO now). We always set aside budget for lodge lunches which are a racket. I usually eat a protein bar in my ski bag and whatever my kids don’t finish. I don’t even consider myself cheap but am floored at the cost of eating out.

This is silly. You give your kids a weekly budget, and after that they get a job and pay for it. Learn to say no.

Um. It’s not silly if I don’t care that they are taking the discretionary budget. No where in here am I suggesting I never say no or they don’t do chores. Unclench.

Starbucks is terrible, just liquid sugar. I judge the parents of kids who are always wandering around with a Starbucks cup in their hands.