fast food on plastic

[Ima saver]

Consumers are charging about $430 million per week at quick service restaurants; fast food places like Wendy's , MeDonald's and burger King. What do you think about that? Do you do it?

[sweeps]

I do it because I get 3% rewards at restaurants on my American Express, I get detailed tracking of my expenses on my credit card bill, and I don't have to handle other people's cash and coins.

[catlinye_maker]

Probably mine is a minority opinion, but I like it. One more thing I don't have to remember to carry cash for, on the rare occasions that we stop for fast food. Of course, charges like that are made on the debit card and come out of the food budget, so it's not like any finance charges are paid on that Big Mac.

Linda C.

[Ima saver]

This same report says that QSR (quick service restaurants) are experiencing tremendous growth as a result of accepting credit cards.

oddly enough, I find that I stick to what I plan on getting when I'm using my debit card, if I use cash, I seem to be infinitely more likely to get a bigger drink or an extra piece of whatever.

strange I know, you would think it should be the other way around, but I've twice switched to all cash based on other's recommendations and it worked out that way when I looked at the tracking.

so I stick with the debit card.

now I have plenty of other reasons I shouldn't be paying for that stuff with ANYTHING! (about 20 reasons mostly hanging around my gut, but that's a problem for a different forum )

[Tightwad Kitty]

Here in Australia, they have miminum purchase amount about $5 to $10 . As I never buy anything over these amounts most of the time, I always pay cash.

If you use a credit card then they can charge you a fee of about 1.5 to 3% of the purchase on top what you have purchased. Some places do and some don't do this! You never know until you are at counter to pay! If you have never been to that place before!

[Ima saver]

Well I don't have a debit card, cause I operate on an all cash basis, but I try to never charge food anywhere, especially at the grocery store or fast food place. I do sometimes use the credit card if I am paying for another couple's meal.

[debtfreeme]

i sometimes use my debit card if i need to hit one of these places, never a credit card! i just make it come out of my fun money or grocery money.

[JoyJoy]

We receive double rewards at the grocery store on our Amex card! Love it!! I haven't used our card at the fast food restaurant yet, but I wouldn't hesitate to use it. I buy the groceries and I consider buying fast food as part of the overall grocery bill. I was reading an article today where using credit cards is really safer than carrying cash. If you're robbed for your wallet then you lose your cash. Lose your credit cards and you're responsible for the first $50.00. I think we all know that, but it is something to think about when you're out and about and alone especially.

[Snoopy2645]

I am like debtfreeme if we eat out it comes out of fun money in my checkbook or pocket otherwise we dont eat out.

[homeCooking]

NOT ME
I cook all the time and I take my lunch and snacks to work. I find that food disgusting anyway and quite expensive...

[PRICEPLUS]

Ditto!

[Ima saver]

Fast food tastes a little like plastic.

[frugalfarmwife]

Not gonna happen here either, we've quit going out to eat I can make just as good or better meals here for a LOT less.

kj

[Russell]

Well I've never tasted plastic before so I can't compare the two but I agree its not healthy. Although it is convenient and allows me to take a break from the office env. Also both the wife and I work full time and have a 1 yr old so its tough to cook dinner even twice a week. I know, its not the best but at least I try to pick healthier (hole in the wall fast food) places. I never eat at Mc Donalds, Wendys, Burger King etc.

I charge it to my rewards card if the total is more than $10.

[PrincessPerky]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

Fast food tastes a little like plastic.

ROlf! and I have never tasted it before either! I sometimes wonder why on earth I find the smelll of a greese vat appetising?

but I do, I admit it, I do like the taste of deep fat fried fries, or a burger recently removed from a pile of grease....eww so gross to say, but sorry I like it!

[lrjohnson]

Princess, Oh Yes!

A few years ago I was having some intestinal issues and my doctor was quizzing me. "How do you feel after eating greasy food?" My puzzled reply: "Happy." Not until she started laughing did I understand that she wanted to know how my guts physically felt.

The stuff is engineered to make us like it. For me it's love/hate: I've read Fast Food Nation which factually reinforced a lot of ideas I already had, but get me in a reckless mood and I go grease.

[MyMoneyForest]

And people wonder why America is overweight...

[mbhunter]

My Wednesday night dinner right before worship team practice is a McChicken sandwich, light on the mayonnaise. $1.09, which I put on a rebate credit card. (I used to buy the gift certificates and redeem the UPromise 3%, but that got to be too much trouble for $0.15 a book.)

[zakity]

I do!! I use my credit card for everything (even some of our bills). We get points and I use those points for gift cards. I also pay off the credit card every month.