I don't pay for meals eating out

[toocheap?]

I don't think I have paid for a meal in the last few years even though I do eat out on a regular basis.

What I have noticed is that most restaurant meals are too big for most people to finish so I eat the perfectly good leftovers. My favorite place to do this is at Chipotle. I get myself a drink and then take a seat next to the trash can. When someone comes by ready to throw out half of their perfectly good meal, I ask if I can have it. I usually am able to collect enough food for a good meal there plus for five or six meals during the week that I can take home.

I have found that people are much more reluctant to give their leftovers to other people rather than animals (this makes no sense to me, but it seems to be how it is), so if they ask why I want the food, I tell them I raise pigs and they are more than happy to give me the food. Am I too cheap?

[bjl584]

I think that you are making this up.

[toocheap?]

That is certainly your prerogative to think so, but I'm not. As I have said before, I do things very differently than most people, but it works for me.

[bjl584]

Originally Posted by toocheap?

That is certainly your prerogative to think so, but I'm not. As I have said before, I do things very differently than most people, but it works for me.

Well,
To answer your question, Yes, I think that is a bit extreme. I wouldn't eat leftovers from complete strangers next to a trashcan. Sounds like a good way to end up with hepatitis. That seems like an act of desperation. Why even bother spending the money to go out to the restaurant in the first place? Stay home, cook your own food, grow a garden.

[toocheap?]

How is eating leftovers a good way to get hepatitis? You think that most people that are eating at restaurants are hepatitis carriers? I do grow a garden and I do cook my own food as well. This is just another way that I get it.

[bjl584]

Originally Posted by toocheap?

How is eating leftovers a good way to get hepatitis? You think that most people that are eating at restaurants are hepatitis carriers? I do grow a garden and I do cook my own food as well. This is just another way that I get it.

Complete strangers touching food and having saliva on it from biting it is safe then? No germs, viruses, or bacteria on there at all?

So, if this is true, why on earth do you engage in this type of behavior? I mean, homeless people eat from trashcans because they are starving and have no choice. I suppose if I didn't buy food I would starve too, but I budget for food. Food and shelter are the most basic things that you have to budget for. I don't think that you are starving. If you were you probably would cancel your internet subscription, sell your computer, and use the proceeds to get some food for yourself. So, I think that you are being too cheap. You asked. If I were you I would refocus all that creativity that you have and use it to create a budget that allows you to buy and grow your own food. Then you won't have to pander at the local Chipolte for scraps.

[Mr Nice Guy]

Is this borderline trolling?

Yes you are cheap. No move on to another question.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by toocheap?

Am I too cheap?

Yes. When you cross the line to begging and putting your health at risk in order to save money, there is a serious problem.

[cypher1]

While I've been taught to share what I have, giving away leftover food at a restaurant DOES seem a little extreme if one can afford the food. As bjl584 said, I'd be more concerned with germs.

[bjl584]

Originally Posted by Mr Nice Guy

Is this borderline trolling?

Yes you are cheap. No move on to another question.

Probably. But it's entertaining.

[GREENBACK]

This is, to say the least, strange behavior if true. This is very unsanitary and will prove idiotic if you contract hepatitis or just the newest flu bug on the scene. Any savings will be wiped out by your medical bills and then some.

This is similar to someone having unprotected sex to save on condoms. Pretty disgusting. I think it's trolling too, by the way.

[YLTL_Dan]

What a concept! I agree this would take frugality to a whole new level. If your health is suffering from lack of food, I suppose this is a reasonable way to eat. However, if you're not in need, I question your true motives. Also, I don't think a restaurant manager would let you hang around very long if you were doing that.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by YLTL_Dan

If your health is suffering from lack of food, I suppose this is a reasonable way to eat. However, if you're not in need, I question your true motives. Also, I don't think a restaurant manager would let you hang around very long if you were doing that.

I agree. I can't imagine a restaurant letting someone hang out asking people for their trash. And I'm not so sure I'd agree that this would be reasonable even if you were starving. It would be much more reasonable to go to a soup kitchen or shelter or approach a restaurant manager to ask for their unused food that hasn't yet been served. Restaurants throw out tons of food.

[DebbieL]

I agree this seems like a troll. If this person actually did this, they would be kicked out pretty quickly from any restaurant I can think of (imagine the liability issues?)!

[NJDebbie]

Gross!

[toocheap?]

If there were 14 hungry children in front of you that might go without a meal for the entire day and they could be fed a quality hot meal if you were willing to eat somebody elses leftovers for one meal, would you? That is basically a choice you make every time you go out to eat.

This is how I think about it. I grew up extremely poor where there were days I didn't eat. I have plenty to eat now, but there are still plenty of children in our country that don't. I have chosen to save every penny I can so that some of these kids have a hot meal that otherwise wouldn't. That means if I can get leftover meals that are perfectly good that would otherwise go to the dump, I have no problem doing it.

In my opinion, we have become a nation of germaphobes. There is little risk of getting ill from other people's food. I have never become ill in the 5 years I have done this. You kiss your partner. You eat your kid's leftover food. At buffets there are all kinds of chances for people to accidentally sneeze into the food. I just don't see it as a big deal or a health threat any more than many other everyday things.

As I have said, I don't expect anyone to agree with what I do.

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by toocheap?

As I have said, I don't expect anyone to agree with what I do.

So why are you continually seeking guidance and approval on these issues from those at this forum? You asked,"am I too cheap" I think you know that answer. I hope that you really are feeding hungry children. You have my respect if that's the case but so do I and, I'm sure, many others here.

Wanna really feed hungry children? Stop hanging around garbage cans and taking advantage of buisness owners and improve your financial situation to the point that you truly have the means to help others. You're being so cheap that it's nonsensical in terms of helping anyone other than yourself and that's questionable.

[BuckyBadger]

This is absurd. I don't believe a word you say.

Congratulations on your nice gradual build up into complete ridiculousness. Start small with the bananas and the cartons of orange juice -- then build into the absolute lunacy that is lurking around trash cans at fast food restaurants and scavenging and begging for six used meals.

Nice work!

[jpg7n16]

Originally Posted by toocheap?

In my opinion, we have become a nation of germaphobes.

Yeah. Take that stupid rising life expectancy!

Google - Life Expectancy

As I have said, I don't expect anyone to agree with what I do.

I don't believe you. Why post?

Why ask for validation if you're too cheap? You already know that you are. What are you hoping to receive from these odd gross questions?

[toocheap?]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

So why are you continually seeking guidance and approval on these issues from those at this forum? You asked,"am I too cheap" I think you know that answer. I hope that you really are feeding hungry children. You have my respect if that's the case but so do I and, I'm sure, many others here.

Wanna really feed hungry children? Stop hanging around garbage cans and taking advantage of buisness owners and improve your financial situation to the point that you truly have the means to help others. You're being so cheap that it's nonsensical in terms of helping anyone other than yourself and that's questionable.

I don't seek approval. As I stated in my first post here "I plan to share the strange ways that I save money and if you like them, great. If you don't, that is your prerogative as well." I just assumed that some people might find them useful and it might be a different perspective.

My financial situation is fine. I earn an above average salary. I do it so that I can help even more. I am not hurting the business owner in the least bit. It is your prerogative not to agree with me. I still believe that what I am doing is helpful to others and will continue to do it.