Eating out?

[Hot dog]

We hardly ever eat out. I bring instant oatmeal to work and just add water same with my coffee and for lunch I bring from home also. I am starting to think I need to start budgeting more fun into my budget cause right now I am just all about getting all the bills gone even though they are just a car loan about to be paid and mortgages. I always put some extra toward the mortagage so I need to start allowing myself some fun money or I am just going to I don't even know but it is starting to not be so fun.

[Aleta]

HotDog: When we were first getting out of debt, the plan that I was following encouraged entertainment money. There was not a specified amount but the guy said that if all you do is put every penny to your debt, your chances of failing would be greater. For the first 3 months we didn't so much as go to a McDonalds's. We did add a little money I think $5. a week for whatever, whether it was to rent a movie, gas for a long ride, or parking fee money for a free concert.

We got to a point where we would look at what we were doing to example ( sell aluminum or yard sale items) and would compare it to what we wanted to do for fun. Sometimes we decided to forgo certain things that would cost too much. There's alot out there that you can do that doesn't cost a lot or is free. But, sincerely, think about treating yourself to something like a movie out when you pay one of your bills off. It's good to reward yourself for a job well-done.

[LuxLiving]

Hot Dog, we used the past (debt), present (bills) and future (savings) for getting out of debt. I always alloted just a bit of the present portion for fun. Otherwise we would of rose up in mutiny ourselves!

[Ima saver]

I was good, we stayed home last night. Looking forward to our dinner "date" tonight!!

[lgslgs]

Last time was about 3 years ago and it ran under $25 at a nice little local place. Time before was probably about 2 years prior to that one. We don't buy carry-out foods, order delivery foods, or purchase snacks while out either.

We cook everything from scratch and we're both very good at cooking and baking. We also grow a lot of what we eat. We don't have to go drive off to some place, get seated and served on someone else's schedule, eat our meal in a room full of people we don't know and pay a lot more to eat lower quality, less fresh food prepared by less experienced cooks.

Ugh! We'll just cook here.

Lynda

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by lgslgs

pay a lot more to eat lower quality, less fresh food prepared by less experienced cooks.

I agree to an extent. As I said, we avoid fast food and chain restaurants, but once you get into the pricier restaurants, the food is fresh, expertly prepared, creative and far more involved in preparation than what my wife and I would tackle at home, and we are both very good cooks.

So while I think going to Chili's and spending $20 for dinner is a waste of time and money, going to a local chef-owned/operated restaurant and spending $50 for dinner is a far more worthwhile experience to be savored, enjoyed and talked about for weeks afterward.

[tinapbeana]

when i go out to eat i like going to places that prepare food i don't know how to cook, or don't keep the materials on hand, etc.

for instance, my local mexican restauarant serves roast pork and veggies for about the price i could make it at home, and they do it well (not to mention no prep or cleanup on my part!). i also enjoy a local german restaurant and a pan-asian place that's a regional chain. these are all inexpensive, use fresh ingredients, and owned by local people.

why spend $10 a plate at chilis when i can spend $9 for all-you-can-eat schnitzel, brats, and spiced cabbage made by a nice german lady?

[lgslgs]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

So while I think going to Chili's and spending $20 for dinner is a waste of time and money, going to a local chef-owned/operated restaurant and spending $50 for dinner is a far more worthwhile experience to be savored, enjoyed and talked about for weeks afterward.

We've also got the situation where we're at least two hours from any real cities and about an hour from any progressive small towns that would have that sort of place. The nearest Chili's type places are all almost an hour away as well.

I must admit, I do fondly remember an incredible dinner almost 20 years ago at a combination bowling alley/restaurant in the middle of nowhere owned by a top notch Belgian chef. I had to learn to make my own green peppercorn mustard sauces after that one! If we still lived near his place I could see making it a once a year special evening out.

I guess we're just going to be stuck with fresh morels from the woods and asparagus from the garden - straight from the ground to the cutting board in the time it takes us to walk back to the house. Can't say that I miss Chili's, Outback Steakhouse or any of that. The Belgian chef is a different story, though...

Lynda

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by lgslgs

We've also got the situation where we're at least two hours from any real cities and about an hour from any progressive small towns that would have that sort of place.

Understood. We live in a foodie paradise. A nearby town, Collingswood, NJ has a restaurant row to rival the finest in the country. And we are only 12 miles from Center City Philadelphia, home to some of the top rated restaurants in the world.

[PetMom]

My husband insists on eating out daily, he goes with his colleagues
and they do their 'power lunches'. No one in his office sits at their
desk with a bagged lunch and he does not want to be a trendsette
for this.

I promised not to touch that expense when I started our budgeting.

But, this year we have avoided going out so far. We did do some
Chinese take out for about $20.00 per visit from which we would
eat the
leftovers. We did this about 3 or 4 times earlier in the year.

Last year at this time we spent a whopping $60.00 -$100.00
per weekend
on restaurants (we also got the mixed drinks). We are holding
out not doing that so far this year as this was one expense
I knew we could cut out. We also don't go on vacations and
this was in that expense (we went to 'atmosphere' restaurants).

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I like ethnic places to eat. I ate ethiopian (not my favo), tibetian, malaysian, and indian since the beginning of the year. Usually we try and eat foods we don't make at home. Sushi is usually good too.

[Homebody]

Pet mom, my DH is the same. Eats out lunch every day. He has to get away from work and he has an allowance for that.

Otherwise we don't have a planned eating out schedule. We usually end up going spur of the moment, usually breakfast on Sundays. However, I am getting so cheap, I am going to start making breakfast for friends, or that is sort of my plan and I have been researching breakfast casserole recipes. We buy coffee out occasionally and I count that too. In March we spent like $150.00 which was really high for us.

[kateochang]

I eat out quite often since I'm working and not married yet. I spend like $50-$70 per week and I hope to reduce my budget. I have to admit, eating at home is even cost saving but there's no point of cooking for nobody!

I used to eat lunch at school for about 3 or 4 times a week. Now I bring lunch 3 or 4 times a week. I eat out about once or twice a month regularly.

pills11.com )

[sjmey]

I smiled when I read this thread. I am Single and live in a small town.
I love to cook, but I find my self eating out way too much.
I am social and visit with friends and neighbors and even visitors new to town. I end up going out way too much. Once a day, sometimes twice
typically, Breakfast or lunch when it is a little cheaper.
A side note, I just went shoping for myself today, I purchased a weeks worth of groceries for $50.00. I missed a few items on my list probably another 10 dollars or so.

[cschin4]

Not much eating out anymore. My younger son was just diagnosed with celiac disease so he has to eat a gluten free diet. Pretty tough to do if you eat out. So, I have been cooking alot!

[shelbylovesmelby]

We usually only eat out 1x a month & typically as a family. Usually runs $20-30 for all 4 of us.

[Quynne]

We don't eat out much. However, we are experiencing financial difficulties.

When we were doing ok...not behind..we ate out 1-2x a week. We spent about $30-50 each time. If we spent $50, we only ate out once that week. lol. Sometimes we only got a pizza or chinese...or even Bob Evans. My kids love Bob Evans and it is cheap!

Unless we eat something like sushi or anything I can't make at home...we are usually disappointed and feel we spent too much. My husband cooks pretty good and so do I. Most of the time I just perfer to make it. In fact, I only really eat out due to laziness or if we are just out the whole day.

Right now...we don't eat out hardly at all. My husband has budgetted pizza night though. However, I can't see spending money for atmosphere or being served when I can't afford it and could just as easily make it at home. Except sushi...can't make that. lol. Can't afford it right now either. lol.

[My English Castle]

because when I factored eating out and the big ole babysitter bill, I decided that we really DID'NT need to go out tonight, even though it's the end of the semester at my university and we usually go out to celebrate. I bought a bottle of decent wine and a little more upscale food instead to celebrate.

Since I've discovered those pizza crusts in a packet (Martha White, I think), we've saved a fortune on takeout pizza. I love them and they make a mean gourmet pizza with no crust rolling!

[Ima saver]

We still have a date night every night! That is our big splurge but it is in my budget.