How often do you eat out?

[marla]

I've been going over my expenses and I think I may be eating out too much. I have meals outside about 10 times a week. Most of the time it is a quick lunch like a sandwich or salad. A dinner once or twice a week with friends. Also a breakfast every once in awhile or grabbing something to eat on the way to work in the morning if I get up a little late.

How many meals should I be eating at home versus those I am eating out? Am I eating out too much? How often do others eat out?

[kathsew4u]

I only eat out once every week or two. Did you ever see those shows on 20/20 or dateline where they show you what is going on in the kitchens? Its gross!! When you cook at home at least you know its your dirt hands.etc and how the food was made. Not been picked up off the floor or worse. Maybe all these nasty food thoughts will help you eat out less. I wouldnt eat out at all if it wasnt for having a husband that enjoys it. If you are going to eat out at least purchase an Entertenmainent Book or use coupons so you get some % off.

[midnight]

Oh, I've seen some of those shows. The one's where they hide the cameras while the people are preparing the food. I saw one where some young guys were spitting into the food. Grosssssssssssssssssssssssssss!

Maybe they should sell those videos as a money saving tool. rolf. You'll never want to go out to a restaurant and eat again.

[Tree0164]

When I worked outside of the house, it was probably about 5-7 times a week. A couple of muffins, bagels for breakfast, maybe one or two lunchs and then usually dinnner out once or twice.

Now that I don't work outside of the house, it is probably about once a week and that is most take out.

With 3 kids it is expensive to go out to eat. We dined in several resturants during our vacation last week and it was almost $60 each time.

[marla]

I figured I was eating out more than I had to. Most of the time I pick up a deli sandwhich at a local grocery store so it isn't overly expensive (alot better than going to a sit down restaurant), but it still would be better if I made my own.

I don't think I want to see those shows about how food is prepared. I think they would make me sick.

I will try to eat out less this coming week and see how that goes.

[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

[Tree0164]

We have gone two weeks without eating out!! That is good for us....
We are trying to the month of August not to eat out.

[asrai]

Set aside 10 minutes each week and make menus to use up what you have in the house. Or you could shop for what you want to have. Depending on your pantry. But include all snacks, breakfast, lunch, supper. Plan so you have leftovers for lunch if you want.

Save and freeze leftovers for lunch in small containers. Make sandwhiches. You can even make them ahead of time and freeze without condiments/veggies.

[luna-mia]

We eat out about once every week or two. Its ALOT less than what we used to do. All I have to do is remember some awful service with bad food and a high bill and I'm looking for something to make at home. We try to eat out for special times or the occasional family piza/video night.

[Ima saver]

Well i never eat out for breakfast or lunch, but I do eat dinner out 6 nights of the week. I talked to a lady at the grocery store and she eats out every night too. She is single and it is just to much trouble to cook for one person. I just enjoy the idea of going out to eat like being on a date.

[shelbylovesmelby]

we only eat out maybe 2x a month including sit down & fast food. Sometimes more often if we have the money that week.

[Ima saver]

Eatin out is my downfall. I hate staying home in the evenings.

[PrincessPerky]

once a month
or sometimes twice but then I really try to skip the next month.

We plan alot of meals out so we don't have to, sometimes we mess up, others we are sick of packed food (trip to GA is all day of eating, we don't pack dinner)

[BCHGRL]

About once a week. Most nights, I usually eat by myself because my fiance and I have totally opposite schedules.

However, I don't believe that if you are single the only way to keep from wasting groceries is to eat out every night. Once I stopped eating out so often, I lost 30lbs and started saving so much money. I buy Lean Cuisines. I'll have that or a sandwich or soup. Yes, they are more expensive than a meal you prepare yourself, but the meals are proportioned to what a person should have anyways so you won't be throwing out food. If I get hungry later, I have a granola bar.

When we eat out now, it is a real treat instead of just another night. When I think of how much money we used to waste, it is really sad that we weren't investing that money in something other than our stomachs!

[contrary1]

Breakfast or Dinner; hardly ever
Lunch: maybe once ever month or so

At least a couple times a month I'll take one or two of the boys to a fast food sort of event for them to practice their eating out skills. We usually use a coupon or our entertainment book offers for these treats. Let the boys practice ordering & paying. This is usually a drink & fries sort of deal..........not a full meal. Fast food won't fill them up, it would take a fortune to feed them there.

[jodi]

Used to be a few times a week - maybe 2 lunches and a dinner out. But since going on the South Beach diet, I have had to watch what I eat a lot more (no fried foods, lots of veggies - harder to find when you eat out). I probably eat dinner out once a month, lunch 1-2 times per month. I will rarely have breakfast out. Much better for the pocketbook and the waistline.
I had the same problem with cooking when it was just DH and me (now there are 6 in the household). It was very hard to cook for 2, and fresh fruits and veggies always seemed to go bad before they were used. Try making casseroles and soups that freeze well. Old Cool Whip containers are perfect for freezing leftovers.

[Lostsoul33]

I think we do good here. We have two little ones that are wild and that keeps us out of the restaurants. We get takeout maybe once every couple of months.

[Ima saver]

I view eating out as something more than just filling our stomachs. It is a chance to be together, to spend one on one time together, just talking . that is why I resent it so much when people stop by our table to visit for an hour or more.
When we eat out, we spend a minimum of 2 hours at the restaurant talking. We don't even order until after the first hour. It is our date time.

[Lemony]

We eat out once or twice a month.

[Ima saver]

Well I have been doing this for a couple of years, if I want to slow down, I guess I need to cut down one day a week over time. But I have been snowed in for two days, so I am going out to eat tonight!!