How much do you eat out?

[purplegirl247]

I got out once a week with hubby (and we usually keep it between $20 and $30) and once a week with a friend (and I try to keep it below $10). I balance that out by both of us always bringing our lunch and by keeping our grocery bill as low as possible. We definitely make room in our budget for eating out, because it's our time to decompress and try new things.

Our new thing (for the past few months) has been to try little whole in the wall places. We used to never go anywhere without a coupon, but that usually limits you to bigger chains, so we started to hunt out little finds, while still keeping it within our budget and I have to say, it's been pretty fun.

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

I did not vote because we were/are in the same boat as you OP. This month we sat down with the kids and said we would not eat out at all this month, our month runs July 10- August 10. So far so good, but it is hard. Thankfully the kids keep us on track when we talk about going out. I just made sure I really scheduled what we ate for the week and made sure I had all the ingredients. It will be hard next week because we are going on a mini vacation and usually always eat out then.

 

[disney*mom*82]

We go out to eat quite a bit. We all prefer different foods (dd2 and I are vegetarians, Dh likes meat, DS12 and DD10 are just plain picky) but we do eat out on a budget. We know where kids eat free or very cheap or we have coupons or whatever.

I dont really enjoy cooking (have terrible back problems and just standing to cook a simple meal puts me down for the rest of the day) I do prepare breakfast and we usually eat out 1 meal a day. I do cook maybe 1-3 full days of meals at home per month.

 

[Ava]

I can defiantly see how that adds up, I use to do Starbucks EVERY DAY, which totaled up to about $2300 a year. I now do 7-11 coffee only Mon-Fri which only adds up to about $450 year, which then probally would go to vacation.

I used to be a Starbucks person too - love their iced drinks in the summer. But this summer we've started making our own iced coffee at home & I love it. We got a gallon-sized pitcher; 2 full pots of coffee about fills it. I brew the coffee & add sugar while it's still warm so it dissolves in, let it cool on the counter for a while, then stick it in the fridge. In the mornings I just pour some over ice & add milk - delicious, refreshing & cheap!

 

[mjkacmom]

I think you need an option in between never and once or twice a week! We eat out 6 - 8 times a year.

 

[mumto3girls]

Our varies quite a bit, but generally I would say we eat out/takeout 2-3 times per month most of the year. It increases in the summer as I will do fast food with the kids a couple of times per month when we are out doing errands (McDonald's, Chick Fil A, Costco, maybe Panera) and my sister and I have season passes to an amusement park. We take our kids a few times a month and we will do a quick lunch on the way to the park or in the park and then will have a sit down dinner somewhere on the way home--Chinese buffet, Hoss's, etc.

DH travels a lot for business and may eat every meal out for weeks at a time. When he is home he takes lunch a few days a week and usually eats out a few times, usually with clients.

My kids take their lunches 4 days a week and buy 1 time a week--this is more of a health issue than a monetary one.

I don't mind cooking, but a break every once in a while is really nice and I enjoy eating out. On vacation we usually eat breakfast in our room most days, eat dinner out most nights and lunches depend on whether we are at Disney or the beach. At Disney we generally do a quick service meal, at the beach we generally eat in the room (we have DVC so we can cook/fix something decent).

 

[DawnM]

Our eating out isn't about times per month, ours is about money.

We put about $100 in the eating out budget per month and that is what we spend, provided we aren't on vacation, then we spend more.

We know every restaurant that offers free kids meals and which night they are offered, we also know where we can get the best deals......we have a couple of sit down places where we can all 5 eat for $20, which is better than McDonald's!

Jason's Deli is our favorite place! We can get two extra large sandwiches or something to share as the portions are HUGE, 5 drinks, and then they offer free cracker and muffin appetizers and free ice cream for dessert! DH always uses his drink to mix with the free ice cream and makes a large float.

Dawn

 

[disneydreamersx4]

WOW 5 of you eat for $20!! What kind of food do you get for that?

 

[charming23]

We plan on 2-3 times a month in our budget. Usually one nice dinner and maybe a quick breakfast or lunch. Now my grandma however loves to take us out a ton as she hates to cook and hates going out alone. We have tried to cut down on that by having her over for dinners or taking food to her house.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Usually 1 sit down meal as a family per week. Logan's is a favorite as all 3 of us can eat for $20 + tip. We do not purchase drinks when we eat out.

We also do a pizza every 10-14 days.

Each of us has a slush fund for the week, I usually grab Sweet Teas at the local convenience store or may hit Sonic during Happy Hour.

The cost of eating out isn't much higher than eating at home though. There are too many BOGO coupons and kids eat free events to make eating out expensive.

 

[mhsjax]

WOW 5 of you eat for $20!! What kind of food do you get for that?

I would also like to know that. We are a family of 5 and we can't eat at McDonalds for $20.00.

I have 2 boys ages 13 and 9. One girl age 11. Both boys eat as much as grownups, they aren't over weight, and in fact thin. Daughter eats a lot and sometimes not a lot. My biggest problem is that from very early on I trained them not to like all that kid menu junk. They don't care for cheap kids pizza, and one can't have it due to allergies. Anyway, they prefer adult food, because of what is offered and also kids portions don't fill them up.

If I am going to give them junk food, which I do sometimes, I prefer to do it at home, where at least they can get alot more of it for much cheaper.

We did eat out a lot but now I really have to be desperate to eat out. I refuse to spend the money.

 

[DawnM]

Well, as I mentioned, Jason's Deli can often be around $20. The kids get $3 kids' meals and DH and I split a large meal. Appetizers (muffins and crackers) and ice cream are included in the meal and free there.

On the Border has $10 meals that are HUGE and we get 2 or 3 of those with waters and still take home food.

Several places have kids eat free nights and we go there and DH and I get meals for under $10 each and then the kids eat free.

http://coupondivas.com/kids-eat-free/

Dawn

PS: And we use BOGO coupons, Entertainment Books, etc...

WOW 5 of you eat for $20!! What kind of food do you get for that?

 

[Tissa]

Every Friday night we either go out to eat or have take out. I cook 6 nights a week, Friday is my night off. We spend about $30 for a family of 4.

 

[mhsjax]

I checked out the Jason's Deli, My kids wouldn't want to eat off the kids menu, #1 it wouldn't fill them up and 2 it is too plain for them.

Again for me, (not other people, just me) I refuse to pay even $3.00 for a plain old turkey and cheese or ham and cheese or PB&J. I can get that at home.

I will go to Costco's and get the hotdog combo, HUGE hotdog and a drink for $1.50 and then we shop.

 

[DawnM]

My youngest gets the salad bar Jr. and my olders typically get the pasta dish.

I have 2 kids who won't touch hot dogs, but they will eat Costco pizza.

Jason's has a variety, not only sandwiches.....and it is all with no saturated fat or HFCS, even their sodas are made without HFCS. And their adult meals are very reasonable, $5-$9 typically.

Dawn

I checked out the Jason's Deli, My kids wouldn't want to eat off the kids menu, #1 it wouldn't fill them up and 2 it is too plain for them.

Again for me, (not other people, just me) I refuse to pay even $3.00 for a plain old turkey and cheese or ham and cheese or PB&J. I can get that at home.

I will go to Costco's and get the hotdog combo, HUGE hotdog and a drink for $1.50 and then we shop.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I voted "never", but that's not entirely accurate. We very rarely eat out though, maybe once every other month or so? We don't do fast food/drive thru's any more than that either. I wasn't feeling well last Sunday, and DH was working, so I picked up a pizza; that was the first one this year that I can remember.

It seems like most of the times we do eat out are days that we have doctor or dentist appointments. Our docs are all about an hour away, and we try to get all of the appts the same day so there's almost no way around eating out.

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

WOW 5 of you eat for $20!! What kind of food do you get for that?

Not the PP but 4 of us can eat at Panda Express for less then $14.00, we drink water, and be totally full. I actually am not a fan of Chinese but I love their food. It is so fresh tasting. My daughter may be 8 but she eats like and adult so there really is a great amount of food.

 

[Pembo]

Family of 5 and we maybe eat out once a month at a place like Applebees and we may order pizza once a month. We very rarely eat fast food. All of our meals are made and eaten at home.

 

[aprilgail2]

I don't think I could even come up with a number as to how many times...I eat lunch out 5 days a week when I am at work...breakfast usually at least 3 times a week out...dinners I would say at least 3 times a week for sit down dinners out in restaurants and then Friday night is usually Pizza night so we have a pie delivered. I am not a big fan of cooking, my daughter is not a big fan of eating either LOL....she will not eat off the kids menus normally since they are usually things like hot dogs, hamburgers (she does not eat red meat, pork or fish) and chicken nuggents which are fried..she will only eat grilled chicken and most places don't have that- we do always ask though since some will do it for her. When I cook I try to cook just the right amount since neither of us will eat leftovers.

 

[ripburn]

I never eat out because i am all about saving money.