Price Increases and Eating Out
By Kareng
@kareng (80243)
United States
February 20, 2009 2:28pm CST
Do you eat out on a regular basis at either fast food places or restaurants? Have you noticed that the prices are creeping up, just like everywhere else? I know that if groceries go up, then restaurants and other food establishments must also raise their prices but some of them are getting a bit over the top. For instance, I have noticed a price increase at Popeye's Fried Chicken. It will now cost you $20 with tax for 12 pieces of chicken, 1 Lg. side order and 6 biscuits. It is advertised at $17.99. This same deal used to be $7.99-9.99 just last year. I figure that this price is too much to pay for what you are getting. I mean I can buy 4 whole chickens for that price at the store, even with the increased prices at the grocery.
Another example just happens to be another chicken place. It is called Cane's and they serve chicken fingers. It is very popular here because unlike Popeyes or Churches Fried Chicken it isn't greasy. They have now raised the price of their box dinner to $6.99. This includes 3 chicken tender strips, french fries and a very small serving of cole slaw. For two people, you are paying about $16 plus some change with tax.
These two places are just causal places to eat and about the same as fast food places. How are people affording to eat out with families often at restaurants? We haven't been to any other places other than "casual" but I'm noticing the prices are creeping up.
So how are things in your area? Are prices going up drastically? Are you paying the price and still eating out or are you boycotting those places?
8 people like this
24 responses
@roberten (3128)
• United States
20 Feb 09
kareng, I would imagine that the cost of eatting out is going up like everything else. I do not eat out very much so I personal have not noticed this trend but expect it is so. I usually eat out at fast food restaurants like McDonald's because I can get a contribution to my daughter's Upromise account. I set a specific amount aside and add it to my Arch card and when that is gone I don't go anymore that month. I also get gift cards from Mypoint.com for certain casual dining resturants ever now and again as a special treat for me and the family. I long for the day when I can just go into any restaurant and order anything I want without having to worry about how I'll pay for it. 
3 people like this
@soyporteno (406)
• United States
6 Mar 09
I've seen an increase in prices lately too. It sucks because it is both at the grocery store and at restaurants. All restaurants, from really classy expensive ones all the way down to places like McDonalds.
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
4 Mar 09
Yes, I certainly have seen an increase in fast food prices and other restaurants. We don't go out as often as we used to due to the recession, higher prices, and I used to work full time but have been a stay at home mom for the last 4 years.
It is ridiculous because for my family of 6 it is around $36.00 to eat dinner at McDonald's! 
I think that is horrible. And that is for 3 Happy Meals in that figure. It used to be so reasonable to go to fast food places.
I use some of my earnings from myLot and from places like Mypoints, etc. to save up for gift cards, etc. and then we go to Chili's or something like that.
And the grocery store prices are also way more than they used to be. I sure do hope that the recession goes away soon. The economy is so bad right now.
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
I think that is horrible. And that is for 3 Happy Meals in that figure. It used to be so reasonable to go to fast food places.
I use some of my earnings from myLot and from places like Mypoints, etc. to save up for gift cards, etc. and then we go to Chili's or something like that.
And the grocery store prices are also way more than they used to be. I sure do hope that the recession goes away soon. The economy is so bad right now.
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
@ersmommy1 (12587)
• United States
23 Feb 09
Our family has never been on fancy vacations,we always play tourist in our own town. We have always had used vehicles, etc. The one thing we did was enjoy a good meal out. But that is the only place to trim the "fat" these days. It is really a shame. Yeah, I'd have to boycott such a place. We do still make it to O'Charleys on a Monday.
They have the deal where kids eat free 7 days a week. But then for $20 You get an entree, 2 sides, and your drink. So not too bad for a family of 4.
1 person likes this
@ds6413 (2070)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Hi, I go to this one restaurant and have my left overs on friday night's. I get steak fajitas and there is always enough for a meal for the entire household. so friday is fajitas friday in my house.The fajitas costs approx $15 plus.That way I can reduce the grocery bill by using left overs for at least for one day. As for fast food places I don't go there much.
2 people like this
@kareng (80243)
• United States
23 Feb 09
I bring leftovers home too when I eat out. Lots of times there is just too much food to consume in one meal and bringing it home gives me a lunch the following day. My husband and I also split entrees sometimes, just depends on the mood and where we are at!
@delkar (1712)
• Romania
20 Feb 09
well, i`m not eating every day out, maybe not even weekly, but i really go out sometimes to eat. When i do that, it depends how much time i have. If i don`t have so much time, i`ll but a shaorma and that`s all. I`ll be full from one shaorma or a kebup. But if i really habe time, i`ll go to a restaurant, but not to an expensive one. I have just the right one for me, when i feel like in my own home. It`s so important to feel good where you eat. Yeah, prices are going up almost every month, for different changes of the price at gas, basicaly food and so on.
2 people like this
@academic2 (7000)
• Uganda
21 Feb 09
I think eating out is onething I try to avoid-I therefore eat out only when I cant help it. This has helped me to avoid the expensive junk foods that are splashed around in the many eating places in my city.
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
23 Feb 09
I have noticed the rising prices, and we just don't go as often. We go about once a month as a family and have started buying frozen pizzas or making them homemade.
1 person likes this
@kareng (80243)
• United States
25 Feb 09
Now that is a good idea. There are some frozen pizzas on the market like Diginoro's ( I know I butchered it!) that are quite good. And getting the whole family together at home is fun to do! You can even pair this up with a family night at the movies! Great idea! Have a wonderful day!
@wondericequeen (7876)
• Hong Kong
21 Feb 09
Actually the prices haven't really increased drastically around where I live but I still cut down my dining out time because it seems that eating in is a cheaper choice and it's more healthy! The prices around here are still around the same *smiles*.
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I noticed the prices on everything are creeping up. Fast food restaruants grocery stores gas stations no matter where you go the price of stuff has gone up. Milk even got up to about $4.25 a gallon for a while it is back down to $3 a gallon now though thankfully. We don't eat out very often it is alot cheaper to just eat at hoem.
1 person likes this
@hotsummer (13919)
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
yes everything seems to be shooting up. the prices are just crazy. even here in my country i can feel the global crisis. and it really sad to see the prices of our necessities are getting too much. and i hope that things will stop on increasing cause it is so hard to budget my money now to buy things. and even in restaurants i do though still eat. actually not restaurants but only fast foods and some affordable eating outs. cause even before i am not into expensive restaurants cause i don't have the budget.
1 person likes this
@carrine (2743)
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
yeah so much! its like my P1000 Philippine money gosh, its only one bag of your groceries.. global economic crisis are very serious already.but still i cant help to be thrift.. i cant help not to ride a taxi.. because our climate now are very hot.. whew..
1 person likes this
@Jae2619 (1482)
• United States
23 Feb 09
We are a family that very seldom eats out. We have hard schedules which makes it hard to go anywhere, so if we do go out it has to be planned and something very special. The last time we went out, it's been months ago though, was to Chilli's, and didn't really notice any price differences, but not sure we would since it's a once in a blue moon that we go there. For my family of 4, it was 48 dollars..
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
21 Feb 09
The average year my family eats out four times in twelve months. Occasionally we'll eat out an extra time or two, but it's not often. We haven't eaten out yet, no, so I'm afraid I haven't noticed this.
I HAVE noticed though that the prices at the deli's are increasing, but that's only 'cause my Mom and I spend a dollar a piece on some hot mac 'n cheese (which is out dinner for the day) so that we don't spend more than we have during grocery shopping. It's harder to do now, because it's steadily creeping up.
The grocery stores are still fluctuating. Right now alot of things have finally gone down since we're far enough away from the holidays...but most things are still where they were a month ago (sucks, majorly).
1 person likes this
@naka75 (795)
• Singapore
21 Feb 09
With the price hike, pay cuts and people losing their jobs, I have been prudent with my spending over lunch and dinner when I have to dine outside. I will go for simple lunches about $3 per lunch(about $2USD) and don't buy any drinks. I've stopped going to fast food as they are becoming more expensive. A two-piece chicken meal at KFC now costs about $8 ($5 USD) which it was previously $5. Meals at Macdonalds have also gone up, about $7 per meal. I believe there are ways of eating it cheaper and healthier. Fast food are casual as they always attract a lot of school children, selling their set meals for school children at a discount price. What I am worried is that the large intake of sodium and fats for children on a regular basis will have a negative impact on their health.
@kareng (80243)
• United States
23 Feb 09
Most fast food is unhealthy for you and packed with sodium. You have a valid reason for not wanting to eat it! You are also right about the effect it has on children. If they start consuming it on a regular basis as a child, they are more prone to becoming addicted to it, the high sodium content and taste and therefore keep the bad habits as they grow up.
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
21 Feb 09
like every thing else we are just cutting back and now every once and a while i will buy mcdonalds for the kids.k.f.c over here is very pricey and if i want to feed the family it would cost me around $30.00 for a family bucket,which was about $27.00 a few months ago.so everything has gone up.cheers sue
@mimico (3617)
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
We still eat out on weekends. But during weekdays, we cook at home. Cooking is still cheaper than eating out even if you go to fast food chains. I actually don't like fast food meals anymore. It feels so commercialized. When we eat out, we choose special restaurants. Or places where the food is different from what we make at home or from what we can buy at the grocery.
1 person likes this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
20 Feb 09
You're right everythitng is going up! We used to eat out together as a family every Friday night. But as of lately we have scaled back to once a month and I cook a meal for a lot less at home and everyone just comes over to our house for dinner the other 3 weeks. We have also resorted to renting movies rather than going to the theatre for the same reason. Actually this is one change I don't mind. It is a much more realxed atmosphere at home and we get to spend quality time together.
1 person likes this
@kareng (80243)
• United States
22 Feb 09
It sounds like you have made changes that also involve keeping the family all in touch. I agree with you on the movies! I would much rather watch them at home. You may want to consider Netflix. We have been a member for about two years now and love it!
@itsme_cha (504)
• United States
21 Feb 09
yes it is true that eating out cost so much money. i usually go out to eat once a week, i cant do it everyday as it will cost me a lot of money and the fact that i cant afford it either. so it is more inexpensive to just cook at home instead of dining out. but it is not bad to go to a nice restaurant once in a while like special occasion or even once a week.
happy mylotting!!!
1 person likes this
