Eating out?

[sakigt]

Originally Posted by tinapbeana

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?

Ugh. You just made me hungry. I wish we had a good german place around here!!

Sauerbraten makes me happy.

[pjmama]

I cant even count. As I eat out when I'm on campus usually, which ends up being quite pricey. Right now, because it's the summer, I'd say a couple times a week (though I'm trying to cut back to once a week), and what we spend varies depending on what we're in the mood for and whether we get lunch or dinner. We try to stick to lunch if we do go out, which runs us about $30 max, but dinners range from $25-50. Ugh. Gets so expensive after a while!

[Ima saver]

Well, I am eating out tonight and I am looking forward to it!!

[mom-from-missouri]

About once ever 4-8 weeks. Usually we use gift cards that I earn from MyPoints for part of it. We rarely spend over $30

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

Well, I am eating out tonight and I am looking forward to it!!

Us too. DD is camping with Girl Scouts this weekend so we made dinner reservations at a very nice Italian place nearby. We got a $100 GC for the holidays and haven't had a chance to use it yet. That'll pretty much cover the bill so it shouldn't cost us more than a few bucks at most.

Bon apetit!

[Ima saver]

Wow, Disneysteve, $100 will cover us for the entire week of eating out. We usually get a $7 or $8 meal. Of course, we can brown bag it , so we pay nothing for drinks. (no set up fee either, we eat there every night)

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

Wow, Disneysteve, $100 will cover us for the entire week of eating out. We usually get a $7 or $8 meal. Of course, we can brown bag it , so we pay nothing for drinks. (no set up fee either, we eat there every night)

The bill came to $90 and change. Since the meal was basically free and the service was excellent, we gave a $20 tip. GC was for $100 so it ended up costing us $10 (plus a couple of dollars for the valet and the coat check).

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

we eat there every night

You go out to eat EVERY night? We love to cook and are too health conscious and budget conscious to do that. Even on vacation, we often do our own cooking a couple of nights if we have a kitchen. That's why we often rent a house or condo instead of staying in a hotel.

[Ima saver]

We eat out every night by Sunday. After 42 years of being married, cooking every night, I am finally tired of it. I look at it this way, I am having a date night every night with the man that I love.
We never eat at a restaurant where we have to sit across from each other. If we can't sit next to each other, we leave the restaurant.

Now, If I still had children at home, I would eat at home all the time. But, we are free now, so we go out on a date every night. Works for us!! (Also, we take at least 2 hours for the meal so we have time to relax)

[Aleta]

I'm with you Steve. When I'm cooking, I basically know what is going into the food. When we go on vacation, same thing. We get a condo with a kitchen and I cook, freeze with seal - a - meal bags and for a couple of days, we have food to thaw and heat. Just make breakfast fresh or lunch. Some of it is also for convenience rather than having to go out into the long lines or to leave your area. Sometimes, we'll keep something close at hand to snack on.

[tarah86]

My only spending weakness is food. I usually try to cook but I always get a craving for pizza when I home all day. I average this month of spending about $60 alone. Now I'm trying to keeping only $50s with me at home(pizza hut doesn't accept bills over $20) and I try to spend of my money on bill right away, where it needs to go.

[mom-from-missouri]

Originally Posted by tarah86

My only spending weakness is food. I usually try to cook but I always get a craving for pizza when I home all day. I average this month of spending about $60 alone. Now I'm trying to keeping only $50s with me at home(pizza hut doesn't accept bills over $20) and I try to spend of my money on bill right away, where it needs to go.

I keep a jar of pizza sauce in the fridge. When I crave pizza, I either spread it on a english muffin, slice of bread or a smashed unbaked bisquic, then add some cheese and meat (what ever is in the fridge-bacon, ham, hamburger...) and bake. Its cheap, tastes good and a lot cheaper than ordering a pizza.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by mom-from-missouri

I keep a jar of pizza sauce in the fridge. When I crave pizza, I either spread it on a english muffin, slice of bread or a smashed unbaked bisquic, then add some cheese and meat (what ever is in the fridge-bacon, ham, hamburger...) and bake. Its cheap, tastes good and a lot cheaper than ordering a pizza.

We buy a 2-pack of ready-made crusts at the supermarket and keep them in the fridge. We top them with canned sauce and all kinds of veggies and some cheese. This is one of my daughter's favorite meals, and a very healthy one. No matter where we go for pizza, she always says it isn't as good as mine. Plus it is a lot cheaper and far healthier.

[tinapbeana]

my sister will make Greek pizza: pre-baked crust brushed with olive oil topped with oregano, olives, and feta cheese...

[Aleta]

I also like to use French bread that is a day old and add on the pizza sauce, vegetables, and cheese. I got the idea from Stouffer's French bread pizza. It's easy to do.

[Ima saver]

We are having dinner home tonight and again tomorrow night. Wow, 2 nights in a row!!

[jhoylman]

Eating out is just too convenient...I hate it. I used to travel for work, so every single meal was "eating out". Now that I travel less we eat out less, but still more than I like. Maybe 3-5 times per week.

[Ima saver]

Well we ate at home two nights in a row and did not like it at all. We wound up eating too late and having to clean up a mess. It is cheaper to eat out then stay home. Plus, we know everyone at the restaurant and they come and talk with us.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

It is cheaper to eat out then stay home.

I saw your blog entry about cooking the ribs, and in that particular case you might be right that going out is cheaper, but as a general rule, it is far more economical to cook your own meals at home. A pound of pasta is under $1. A batch of homemade sauce also under $1. Throw in a couple of veggies and we've got a nice meal for 3 people. A basic pasta dish at a restaurant is easily $8 or more for one person.

Or pizza. $12 or $15 to get one pizza with one topping. At home, for well under $10 we can make two pizzas with 5 or 6 toppings.

If you want to make something at home that requires special ingredients that you don't usually stock and might not be able to use up, that can be a waste. But for normal everyday cooking, home is far cheaper than any restaurant I know of.

[Aleta]

I will buy whole chickens when they are on sale for (sometimes) $.59 a pound. I rub the inside of the chicken with butter, salt and pepper it, cut up celery and onion and place in the cavity and neck opening part. I put it in baking ware dish with a lid. I also add some water, potatoes, carrots, celery, and onion around the chicken and bake it. If I buy a chicken at 4 pounds. I've spent about $2.36. I add vegetables which I would have cooked anyway and you have a meal. I always have leftovers and slice up any remaining chicken for chicken sandwiches for the next days lunch. Cooking at home is more reasonable for us.