How are people still able to afford eating out?

[Anonymous]

Dining out has gotten really costly, and often the food isn’t worth it.

I enjoy cooking but am not good enough to replicate restaurant dishes. It’s frustrating for sure.

Cost of groceries has gone up too, which is tough.

[Anonymous]

No, we stopped in November.

[Anonymous]

I’ll do pizza for the kids with mozzarella sticks and fries. Just went from 35 to 38.50. I also maybe reload $25 to Starbucks once per week.

But it’s not really worth it. I just make good stuff at home and I splurge on a Hello Fresh box maybe 1x per month.

Tuna casserole is in the oven right now. Definitely under $10 for 5-6 people.

[Anonymous]

I’ve always made everything at home. I know it’s cleaner and less calorie laden this way.

[Anonymous]

I have been catching up with good friends and so eating out a lot more in the last 2 weeks. Otherwise, I am cooking and eating at home.

[Anonymous]

We have a personal chef. We only dine out occasionally when we are in Italy, France, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Romania, Thailand, Bali, Dubai, and Vietnam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll do pizza for the kids with mozzarella sticks and fries. Just went from 35 to 38.50. I also maybe reload $25 to Starbucks once per week.

But it’s not really worth it. I just make good stuff at home and I splurge on a Hello Fresh box maybe 1x per month.

Tuna casserole is in the oven right now. Definitely under $10 for 5-6 people.

I love me some tuna casserole! My fav comfort food!

[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?

Are you posting from DC? People here are rich from 25 years of war, concentration of the nation's wealth, revolving doors, fake jobs, fake nonprofits, etc. And most are swiping a company credit card when they go out to eat, so it doesn't actually cost them a thing.

[Anonymous]

I agree, OP. It hardly seems worth it anymore. Even a crummy lunch with our 2 kids runs us $100. It's stupid.

[Anonymous]

We get takeout 2-3 times a week. Yes, it's expensive. But sometimes we just don't feel like cooking.

[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!

Why does "doctor" need and apostrophe and "lawyer" doesn't?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll do pizza for the kids with mozzarella sticks and fries. Just went from 35 to 38.50. I also maybe reload $25 to Starbucks once per week.

But it’s not really worth it. I just make good stuff at home and I splurge on a Hello Fresh box maybe 1x per month.

Tuna casserole is in the oven right now. Definitely under $10 for 5-6 people.

This is what you consider "good stuff"?

[Anonymous]

Um, because ... I have a pretty big food budget. I actually spend a lot on high quality groceries, and I eat lunch out once a week so I'm fine with it being $25 at a sit down restaurant with a friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Why does "doctor" need and apostrophe and "lawyer" doesn't?

Typo, you grammar Nazi!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Why does "doctor" need and apostrophe and "lawyer" doesn't?

Typo, you grammar Nazi!

I mean, lawyer.