Anonymous
Post 02/21/2025 14:58     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
We can afford it but the value isn't there anymore. It's too expensive for what it is.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2025 14:56     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
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!


I’m a law partner’s wife, and we hardly eat out. I feel like the food in the DC area is not worth the price. I agree with you OP, $17 for a wrap is ridiculous. I’m usually underwhelmed by the food, and when I look at the bill, it’s just more disappointment.

Go to Spain. Great food at a great price. Also, while on a road trip in VA, I had some great food at a price that made me happy at multiple restaurants a little off the beaten track. So maybe the problem is this area.



Don’t like the cost of food - go to Spain. Easy enough!

🤣


That's why she's a law partner's wife, not the law partner himself.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2025 13:29     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
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?



DH and I expense everything, so the cost does not actually affect our pockets. We recognize that we are truly privileged and as such give charity as much as possible.


And probably tax cheats.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2025 13:15     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't tip, ever. It saves a lot of money and makes life easier.


Agree. Tipping is just throwing money away. It's not my job to pay some guys bills cause he made the wrong career choice.


What's wrong with paying someone for doing a good job? Seems kind of messed up not to pay for the value you received.


The "wrong" with is is that its become a cultural expectation, not in exchange for good service. It allows businesses to keep their prices lower and make profit margins higher at the expense of the lowest paid workers.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2025 13:14     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


+1


Ridiculous. Cheap. Stingy.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2025 13:13     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
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?


DP
Because typos don't discriminate
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2025 13:11     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:
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.


+1
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2025 13:05     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
We also like to expense a lot of meals too, but agree that the caliber of the food in DC/VA is pretty mediocre once one has traveled more.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2025 11:49     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
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?



DH and I expense everything, so the cost does not actually affect our pockets. We recognize that we are truly privileged and as such give charity as much as possible.


How nice of you to balance out your poor ethics with your charitable contributions.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2025 11:14     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
I was looking at the menu for a fairly new DC restaurant. Highlights include:

$19 carrots
$19 brussel sprouts
$14 bread

I'm just done with DC dining. Those prices don't even include tax and tip. They'll probably add who knows what recovery and surcharge fees.

So, soooooooo done with dining out.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2025 10:54     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
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?



DH and I expense everything, so the cost does not actually affect our pockets. We recognize that we are truly privileged and as such give charity as much as possible.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2025 21:42     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
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!


I’m a law partner’s wife, and we hardly eat out. I feel like the food in the DC area is not worth the price. I agree with you OP, $17 for a wrap is ridiculous. I’m usually underwhelmed by the food, and when I look at the bill, it’s just more disappointment.

Go to Spain. Great food at a great price. Also, while on a road trip in VA, I had some great food at a price that made me happy at multiple restaurants a little off the beaten track. So maybe the problem is this area.



Don’t like the cost of food - go to Spain. Easy enough!

🤣
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2025 21:14     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
I live by myself and like eating out. But I only eat 2 meals a day. When my sons are home from college my budget goes out the window. I save by spreading meals out. I will eat half my lunch and save the rest for another meal.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2025 21:01     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
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!


I’m a law partner’s wife, and we hardly eat out. I feel like the food in the DC area is not worth the price. I agree with you OP, $17 for a wrap is ridiculous. I’m usually underwhelmed by the food, and when I look at the bill, it’s just more disappointment.

Go to Spain. Great food at a great price. Also, while on a road trip in VA, I had some great food at a price that made me happy at multiple restaurants a little off the beaten track. So maybe the problem is this area.

Anonymous
Post 02/20/2025 07:04     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Maybe you should stop whining and get a job that pays you more and then you won't have to worry about it.


I really wish dcum used usernames and got rid of anonymous posting so people like this would be forced to think a little and not lean into a horrible version of themselves when replying.



The person who made that comment could care less about the topic and is only trying to provoke a reaction. Trolling is actually a well studied behavior and most of those who do it fall into the dark triad. With or without anonymous posting, this kind of person will continue to troll. Best we can do is point out their behavior for what it is.