Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
they can be maybe $20 or so per person, perhaps a little more if we have a drink or two
A little more with drink or two becomes $50 per person after tax and tip. Not so little.
I'm the OP - and I know it's not so little. That's why I was asking.
I'm not concerned about the idea of poisoning myself by eating at restaurants - frankly, I'm not such a great cook myself! - but am curious about what the alternatives are for hanging out with friends you would like to see. Hiking is a good one with some friends but definitely not with others. Plus it's a much bigger time commitment than meeting for dinner.
I'm not talking about community potlucks - not something where it's a big group of people. I mean situations where you are spending time with a couple of other people who you are making plans to see and talk to.
And I will add: I am not complaining about how much we spend at restaurants! I enjoy this way of socializing, though of course it'd always be nice to spend less $.
I am mostly just curious what people who don't eat at restaurants do to socialize. It sounds like some of you host at your house - I honestly think that would end up costing just as much to do, plus I'd have to cook and clean up - or you go out to sporting events (doesn't that cost $$, too?), or just see your friends at bigger community gatherings like kids games or church potlucks.