I was never big on eating out. I probably have spent more money drinking out and dancing.
Stock market has been awesome since 2019.
I got into individual growth stocks and they have done well. It's not the price that keeps me away, but the food quality.
I'm going out to meet people and have a good time. If food happens to be good, that's bonus.

Anonymous wrote:I don't tip, ever. It saves a lot of money and makes life easier.

Tipping is the way the wealthy put the risk of operating a business onto the poor people. They pay waiters $3.50 an hour to hope that you people make up the difference. Cheaper to operate that way. If you care about equality, don't tip.

I'm with you, OP. Doesn't seem worth it to me anymore and I have cut back a lot on restaurant meals.

I don't tip, ever. It saves a lot of money and makes life easier.

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!

^^ It's all the same posters who chime in on the "I'm looking to spend $250/pp a meal" thread.

It doesn't affect us financially, and we have always gone out 2-3x a week for dinner plus lunches out and breakfast on the weekends out, but the quality has gone way down. Went to Uncle Julio's last night and got the steak soft tacos. The portion size was just pathetic. It was not worth the $200 for my family. They changed their chips and salsa and they were both BAD. I had to supplement with margs, which were on point.

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!

PP and part of my perspective is that I used to work in restaurants, so I actually think that eating out should be MORE expensive. I think prices went up partly because covid changed the labor market. But I still consider most food workers to be undercompensated. I think we have all benefited from actually really cheap food mostly because of exploitative labor practices. That’s why I tip a lot and I’m happy to eat at an expensive place if it seems like the staff are treated well.

OP,

There are a lot of wealthy people on DCUM.

We're frugal, and usually cook from scratch. We noticed inflation at my son's favorite fast food place and have stopped getting the (already rare) fast food burger. We noticed the switch to cheaper ingredients at our favorite Indian restaurant and have stopped going there because it doesn't taste as good. We order at places that seem to be worth the price. For Valentine's Day, I ordered a $130 sushi platter for the family, and added a 15% tip because I like the owner, who is Japanese like me. His food is worth it (Kanpai Sushi on MacArthur, if you want to try).

Maybe you should stop whining and get a job that pays you more and then you won't have to worry about it.

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!

Here’s irony for you. For years we didn’t eat out much because of our budget. I cooked a ton and we saved a lot. Due to this saving and our salaries increasing, we can afford to go out more but it’s crazy expensive so I wish we had taken advantage when it was cheaper. Oh well, I’m glad I can cook and my teens know how to cook as well.

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

We can still afford to eat out because we make a good living and live below our means. We don't feel ripped off because when we eat out, we only eat at places where we feel like the money is worth it. Plus, part of it is just the experience for me. I enjoy the date night with DH, or time with friends, or time with DH and DS.
Other than Chipotle. DS loves it and we get it from time to time, but I find it a rip off.

DH and I cook a ton and can make just about anything we would get out at a restaurant. And we will make date nights, family nights, and friend nights at home, but we still just enjoy going out.

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.

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?