Cooking versus eating out

[bjl584]

The Bottom Line: Cooking Wins


Studies consistently show that cooking at home is dramatically cheaper than eating out. On average, a home-cooked meal costs around $4-$6 per person, while a restaurant meal can set you back $15-$20 or more. That’s a difference of at least $10 per meal, which can add up quickly, especially if you eat out frequently.


Breaking Down the Costs


Restaurant Bill: You’re not just paying for the food itself. The price includes labor costs, rent, and overhead for the restaurant. Plus, there’s tax and, often, a tip.

Delivery Fees: Delivery services add a hefty markup to your order, sometimes doubling the cost of your meal.

Hidden Costs: At restaurants, you’re more likely to indulge in extras like appetizers, desserts, and drinks, further inflating the bill.

Plan Your Meals: Spontaneous trips to the grocery store often lead to impulse purchases. Plan your meals for the week and create a grocery list to stick to.

Shop Smart: Buy in bulk for staples and take advantage of sales and coupons. Consider generic brands that often offer the same quality as name brands at a lower price.

Embrace Leftovers: Leftovers are your friend! Repurpose them into new lunches or dinners to avoid food waste and get multiple meals out of one cooking session.

Minimize Food Waste: Proper storage goes a long way. Learn how to store different foods to prevent spoilage.


While cost is a major factor, there are other benefits to cooking at home:

Healthier Choices: You control the ingredients, allowing you to avoid processed foods, excessive sodium, and unhealthy fats often found in restaurant meals.

Dietary Needs: Cooking at home allows you to cater to specific dietary needs and preferences.

Learning a Skill: Cooking can be a fun and rewarding way to learn a new skill and experiment with flavors.



How to Save When Eating Out


There’s still a place for enjoying a restaurant meal occasionally. Here are some tips to save when dining out:

Lunch vs. Dinner: Opt for lunch menus, which are often cheaper than dinner entrees.

Skip the Drinks: Restaurant markups on drinks are high. Stick to water when you go out to restaurants.

Look for Deals and Coupons: Many restaurants offer weekday specials, happy hours, or online coupons.

[Fishindude77]

Without a doubt far cheaper to eat at home, plus the quality is almost always far better.

We eat out several times per week simply for something to do and socializing.
Average breakfast or lunch for two including tip runs $30-40.
Evening supper for two at local mid priced (nothing fancy) restaurants along with a few drinks typically runs $70-$110.
If I had to guess, I'd bet we spend $6-800 per month on dining out. Some months a lot more.

Note that we are retired and have no debt or payments on anything other than utilities, taxes, etc. so it's just part of our lifestyle spending.
This kind of routine for younger couples or families that have yet to reach financial independence can sink your ship. Add it all up and the dining out might be costing as much as your automobile expenses or big chunk of a mortgage payment.

[kork13]

Yeah, there's no doubt that home cooking is incredibly cheaper than eating out. Especially when you can find deals on basic, flexible staples. Plus, the cheaper, less-processed staples are almost always healthier for you. And if you stock up when you find a good deal, you can keep the food budget under control for weeks or months.

Even meat can sometimes be had on the cheap -- hunting/fishing can bring in alot of great meat to stock a freezer. Going in with someone to buy half a cow or whole hog then getting it processed by a butcher can get you prime cuts for far less than at a grocery. Even at a store, sometimes the meat department will discount fresh cuts near the end of the day or in the morning from the previous day, or that were subsequently frozen. This is typically how I get alot of my meat -- tonight we had pork chops that I got like that for less than $2/lb.

[msomnipotent]

I blame home cooked meals for the majority of our lifestyle creep. An effort to make restaurant-quality meals over the years has led me to buy 2 freezers and a vacuum sealer for the bulk food, a grinder, butcher knives, a deep fryer, tortilla press, shelving, etc. My pantry looks like a spice shop. I had to buy a bunch of empty bottles to store the syrups and drinks I make to go with the meals.

There's a right way and a wrong way to save money. I always wind up choosing the fun way.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Last week in Hawaii I cooked these meals and shared it with the neighbors, canned corned beef hash patties, pork guisantes, lumpia, Korean jap chae (no meat), spaghetti w/garlic bread, fresh corned beef & cabbage, oyako donburi Japanese egg dish, ramen, natto (fermented soy beans) w/takuan, fried portuguese sausage, Korean meat jun, etc. Bought Rada's piroskis, Chinese dim sums, noodles, lemon chicken. Ate at 100 Sails, Yakiniku Korea House, Panda express, Kozo sushi, Safeway cheesecake, Zippy's surf pac, Liliha bakery pancakes, eggs, bacon. Weight was 137, now 142.

[colbysir]

Cooking at home just feels better. You know what's in your food, you save money, and honestly, most takeout never tastes as good reheated the next day anyway.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Happy St Patty's day. Corned beef was $3.99/lb. I cooked 2 slabs, mashed potatoes, carrots & cabbage.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

happy saint patty's day

[QuarterMillionMan]

Heirloom tomatoes are the best. I wish my local Von's carried it. I have only found it at local farmers markets. Maybe Whole Foods or Trader Joe's might carry it. If you have never tried it, it is like night and day.

[Fishindude77]

Heirloom tomatoes are the best. I wish my local Von's carried it. I have only found it at local farmers markets. Maybe Whole Foods or Trader Joe's might carry it. If you have never tried it, it is like night and day.

Interesting.
We grow a variety of tomatoes and I'm not too fond of Heirloom type.
Different strokes ......

[QuarterMillionMan]

Heirloom vs Traditional Tomatoes

When comparing heirloom tomatoes to traditional tomatoes, it's important to consider their unique characteristics and benefits. Heirloom tomatoes are open-pollinated varieties that have been passed down through generations, often within families or communities. They are prized for their unique flavors, distinctive shapes, and often vibrant colors. Heirloom tomatoes are typically more challenging to grow than traditional tomatoes due to their genetic diversity and may require longer growing seasons. They also tend to be more susceptible to pests and diseases. In contrast, traditional tomatoes are bred for specific traits such as disease resistance, high yields, or uniform size, making them more reliable and easier to cultivate. Traditional tomatoes are often round or oval in shape and have a firm texture, with a milder flavor profile. Heirloom tomatoes offer a rich tapestry of flavors and historical significance, while traditional tomatoes provide reliability and consistency.

Has anyone ever tried Harry & David's pears, very fragrant and explodes of pear flavor which makes normal pears taste like eating cardboard. Same with heirloom tomatoes. If I could grow it, I would get exclusively heirloom tomato seeds and not waste my time with the genetically modified traditional tomatoes which are bland and has very little tomato flavor.

[QuarterMillionMan]

An analogous situation is we are dining together in a fine dining establishment and you are telling me that your NY steak is more tender than my filet mignon, brah.