This article says many Americans getting $75,000 or more a year are living from paycheck to paycheck because they spend so much money dining out.
That boggles my mind, not just because Andy and I were always savers, but because nowadays we would much rather eat at home than at a restaurant. What do you think?
April 23, 2015
I enjoy the occasional eating out experience provided I have good company. Like you I prefer eating at home as first choice,
I agree — restaurants are more fun if we do it for a change and if we have good company.
Omg, this is so timely for me. I just went out to dinner with my family for
Lily’s birthday, their treat. I eyed the menu and made sure not to order the
most expensive as the prices seemed so high to me. I really enjoyed it and it
was fun to get a doggie bag so that I could have leftovers the next day. I
suddenly realized that I had not been out to “dinner” for a quite a long while.
Then I was looking at my bank statement and saw that I had used my debit card
mainly at fast food places for lunch. I go almost everyday but always stick to
items on the value menu. Truth be told, it’s of course for convenience but also
to get away from the job and decompress for a small bit of time. I feel very
guilty about spending the money but being one person, I feel if I bought
ingredients for meals, half of it would go bad before I used it.
And I do go out for breakfast twice monthly to meet a good friend but we usually go to
McDonalds for coffee and a McMuffin.
So….
No, if I had the finances and the company, I’d eat out much more often so that I could have something delicious and just sit back and enjoy good conversation with nothing to clean afterwards!
Instead, I will probably have cereal for dinner tonight!
LOL!
In your case you’re doing it for mental health. A good investment, I would say!
$75,000 or MORE a year? LOL.
i had no idea i lived below the poverty line. LOLOLOL!
i fortunately am allowed to order from the child’s menu where the marine and i go to eat and it costs me about 1/2 what the ‘usual’ is.
we eat out at least once a week together. and i love it! it’s his company that makes it valuable for me. we go to places that have outdoor terraces … there are many in our town. and we go at times they’re not busy because we like to linger over a beer or coffee and just visit. something about eating outside… it’s wonderful!
and in the winter and colder months… the places we pick are like little pubs or bistros.
we don’t do terribly fancy.
but yes… i love eating at home too. especially with my new healthier and simpler eating plan. 😀
In your case you’re doing it for the company and experience, and it wouldn’t be as special if you did it every day. Yes, it’s the idea that people are spending so much on restaurants that they can’t save money on $75,000 or more a year that boggles my mind.
When I was briefly in the US, 3 decades ago now, I was amazed at how much people ate out. I do understand the pressures that lead to it. But it is expensive.
Agreed!
I don’t know the trends here…
But I think the food industry is certainly flourishing – when I’m out and about. Whether it’s the Golden Arches or the Westies (cafe); or in the City over at the now trendy Wynyard Quarter…
Your quoted $$ is certainly someone who is getting a wage/salary packet!
I please myself, some days I set off to have lunch over at the Mall, but somehow my pocket book says “it will be better at home” – less noise, less fuss…
It blows my mind too. We are savers – no doubt about it. Plus, what we eat at home is generally healthier (and usually tastier).
My husband and I always shake our heads about people who say that they’re “broke” but eat out all the time and always have the latest and greatest smartphone.
We’re with you! 🙂