How often do you eat out? - Page 3

kichu · #41 (**permalink**) 03-06-2006, 05:55 AM

We eat out once a week. Mostly on friday nights. We even have a sort of scedule, 1st week chinese, 2nd week italian, 3d week mexican, 4th week something that we never tried before etc..But after I started doing a budget for all our expenses, I know how much we spend on eating out everymonth. The budget helps a lot to control our finances.Thanksto all of you for great ideas.

Ima saver · #42 (**permalink**) 03-06-2006, 08:13 AM

Well at least I am not in the minority!!

naturallyadiva · #43 (**permalink**) 03-17-2006, 02:41 AM

I have cut back drastically on eating out. I am trying to get in the habit of meal planning so I can cut out a little more on a trip thats not needed to a restaurant.

Ima saver · #44 (**permalink**) 03-17-2006, 09:18 AM

I haven't gotten any better. I still eat out every night but Sunday.

On Track · #45 (**permalink**) 03-19-2006, 06:17 AM

About twice a week. That is getting cut back to One time a week.

Thrifty Ray · #46 (**permalink**) 03-19-2006, 09:27 AM

We eat out only:

*on special occaisions and the extended family doesn't want to potluck (this is rare)
*hubby eats out when he goes on his dunes trip (4-wheeling) to the coast with buddies (pizza and beer)
*I eat out when I am meeting a friend for dinner or lunch- (monthly or bi-monthly)often these meals are with prior co-workers and they put the expense on the business credit card (so free to me) But when I do pay, it is with my saved allowance and not out of the family budget.
*Every once in a great while (every few months) DH and I say....what the heck...and head over to a little mexican restaraunt on the river for a good, relaxing meal and a couple of margarita's.

Ima saver · #47 (**permalink**) 03-19-2006, 09:54 AM

I am staying home tonight, does that count. Actually where we do save money is my husband's lunches. Instead of buying frozen tv dinners (He does not like sandwiches) I usually cook on Sunday. tonight we are having turkey breast and dressing, so he will have enough left overs for several lunches. Today, I bought some cube steak which I will cook all day in the crock pot for 2 more lunches and I found some pork chops on sale for $2. I will fix those in a few day for several more lunches.
So we do save money by never eating breakfast or lunch out. Today' s lunch is leftover pizza from last night's dinner.

abowers · #48 (**permalink**) 03-19-2006, 05:58 PM

We've been making real sit-down, healthy, meals 3-4 times a week; something simple like sandwiches (due to work/class schedules) 2 times a week; and eating out maybe once a week. I know it costs more, but it's something we like to do to celebrate the week being over!

Ima saver · #49 (**permalink**) 03-20-2006, 09:40 AM

Well You have to have something to look forward to, and I look forward to eating out every night. Plus we don't have that question, what do you want for dinner tonight?

[Automated by GetSmile]

tgavin71 · #50 (**permalink**) 03-26-2006, 02:35 AM

I meet friends once a month for lunch.
I have morning tea once a fortnight with other friends.
When my husband is home (works away 22 days home for 8) he and I will eat out once while the kids are at school.
Get take out once a fortnight on the friday after pay day.
So thats about 6 times a month.

Ima saver · #51 (**permalink**) 03-26-2006, 12:19 PM

I am staying home tonight, cooking out on the grill!!

funnyvalentine · #52 (**permalink**) 04-16-2006, 04:13 PM

We eat out about twice a month, but usually, it's on a mystery shopping assignment, so I get reimbursed.

asha · #53 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarah

This is one of my big problem areas and I'm not sure how to solve it either. I Live alone and if I keep groceries in the house they go bad and I end up throwing them out. That is neither good for my budget nor the environment. Eating out doesn't waste food but is neither good for my budget nor my waistline. I'm tracking my food spending (and waste) in detail for a month to see where my money is going and how best to change the behavior. Good Luck

PS. I love Thumper

I ahd this problem for many years. Food was wasted a lot and I ended up eating out and put on weight. Working shift work and long hours and studying long hours was a killer, too.

In the end, I have basically come up with a menu of four or five quick and tasty dinners with not very sophisticated ingredients and I basically eat them. I also dioscovered cold backed beans on a bread roll, or crispbread with hummus and cottage cheese as my lunches! Much healthier than those pies and fat-fliied sanwiches from the cafeteria.

I can share my recipes with you, if you like, just email me rushmi7@hotmail.com. Theya re vegetarian but easily adapted.

abowers · #54 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 10:04 PM

We eat out once to twice a week right now. Usually one night will be something inexpensive like splitting a large sub, or getting dinner from Panera; the other night will be out somewhere like Mexican or Italian or one of the chain restaurants around here like Chevy's or Chili's, or trying out a new local place.

The other 5 nights of the week we eat food we make from groceries -- we try to plan at least 2-3 meals in advance, and get food we can figure out other meals with later on.
We made our own Thai Green Curry Chicken the other night -- and there was enough for two meals. (that might be something we'd usually get when eating out). If we don't have a real meal planned there's always stuff for sandwiches here or pasta.

Ima saver · #55 (**permalink**) 05-14-2006, 08:09 AM

I am still eating out almost everynight. I did cook on tuesday, so my husband could get the yard mowed and we stayed home Friday night cause he was sick. When we stay home, it seems to make the day so much longer!!

lucasrd · #56 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 02:31 PM

My wife and I recently moved from the Minneapolis area to a smaller town in Minnesota...I recently did a comparison of our "dining out bills"....Monthly average in Minneapolis: $240/mo
Monthly average after the move: $75/mo ... I attribute it to fewer places to eat...you can only eat at pizza hut so many times a month...therefore we cook our own meals more, and are actually happier and healthier...

Savin4disney · #57 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 05:05 PM

We eat out only 1 time a month!

getforfree · #58 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 06:03 PM

we eat twice a year or so.

The last time we had Mcdonalds. We got a kids meal with chicken nugets, 2 cheezeburgers, and some chicken nuggets. That was for 3 adults and 2 toddlers. We all shared the same drink from the kids meal, only we reifiled it maybe t10 times or so, so it would be enough for everybody. We spent almost $9.

If we want to go eat out, we usually go to a buffet. Than I make sure I eat enough what I pay for and if we go around lunch time, me and dh don't eat breakfast, only coffe. The kids get in free. I am not sure untill what age, I think, untill 3. My son just turned 3 this spring, so the next time it will be more expensive. We havent been to a buffet for about a year now.

Eating out costs too much. It is much-much cheaper to eat at home. Whatever we spend at the buffet for one meal would be enough to eat 3 days at home. Fast food is little bit cheaper.

Bookie · #59 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 07:21 PM

I eat out twice a month, once every two weeks. Always a leisurely lunch with friends. We rotate through the same series of local restaurants, and it costs about $10 per person.

bama20 · #60 (**permalink**) 05-16-2006, 05:37 PM

my wife and i used to eat out at least 3 times a week. now that we have 2 kids (3 month girl and 1 year 10 month boy), we hardly ever eat out unless the grandparents go with us. it is to much trouble trying to take care of 2 kids and eat, not to mention the cost of eating out now. home cooked meals are the best for us because you normally have leftovers for the next day too.