Eating Out vs. Cooking At Home and the Cost Difference
By 13tyates
@13tyates (1606)
United States
August 8, 2016 7:24pm CST
This has been something I have struggled with for years! It's one of those things where running to get something to eat is so convenient and honestly as bad as it is for me, it tastes good! Then I look at the costs I could reduce food expenses if I would take the time to make my meals at home every night.
Sometimes I will tell myself to limit eating out to a couple days a week, but then I fall into a trap again where I'm eating out more and more! Ugh, what a pain!
I guess every time I decide to stay home and make something to eat it's a win and I need to remember the cost savings so I'll do it more often!
How often do you eat out/cook at home?
Do you find yourself in this routine? How have you overcome it?
8 people like this
8 responses
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
9 Aug 16
I eat out every single day hahaha! The only time I eat at home is dinner time. I have no plans of overcoming it.
1 person likes this
@13tyates (1606)
• United States
9 Aug 16
@toniganzon Ahh makes sense, at least you get to have one meal at home.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
9 Aug 16
@13tyates Can't cook, but we have a house help at home who does the cooking. But I'm out on most days so I eat at home only for dinner time.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7489)
• Canada
9 Aug 16
I only eat out at my place of employment and most of the time is because I qualified for free food somehow. I do have two special shifts each week where I get a free meal included because of the nature of the work. I also get free meals when I'm called in for a shift I'm not scheduled for. Otherwise it isn't in the budget.
1 person likes this
@13tyates (1606)
• United States
9 Aug 16
My problem is honestly it's not really in the budget for me either. If I would not eat out as much I could keep my budget in control much more. I used to work at a place I could get free meals some days as well and loved it! It really helped me out with my budgeting and taking some additional costs away from my monthly budget.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7489)
• Canada
9 Aug 16
@13tyates We don't have a choice but to be disciplined. If I eat at full price anywhere it is immediately impacting how much food we can buy for the family. We are barely squeaking by the way things are.
1 person likes this
@13tyates (1606)
• United States
9 Aug 16
@koopharper I've been at that level and completely understand. I usually will never eat from anywhere or buy anything unless I have a coupon/discount code period. I wish I would have kept track of my savings because I know it's significant.
1 person likes this
@sherryericha (1806)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
13 Aug 16
Wednesdays are really busy for me, so we usually eat takeout for dinner.
Fridays, I'm just done and depleted. That's another evening that we are most likely eating takeout.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118555)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Aug 16
I am definitely stuck in this routine! I eat out just about every day, and I know it is so much more expensive than cooking at home. It just works for me in so many ways! Like you said, it's very convenient, and tastes delicious! There are so many options of types of foods and restaurants at my disposal, and with my super busy schedule, it makes it much more convenient and simpler for me to eat out.
1 person likes this
@13tyates (1606)
• United States
10 Aug 16
@moffittjc That's a good motto to go by! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118555)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Aug 16
@13tyates I try to find all-u-can-eat buffets when I do eat out. If I'm going to spend the money, I'm going to make sure I get my money's worth! lol
1 person likes this
@CaseyRoss9966 (4056)
• United States
11 Aug 16
We cook almost every night and probably eat out about three times every two weeks maybe. I like to cook, it is cheaper, and healthier. This way I know what is going into my food and I can make meals and dishes how I like them and try out different things in them. Plus if there are leftovers then I can have lunch for the next day or my boyfriend or parents can take it to work the next day. It saves us money more than once.
1 person likes this
@rina110383 (24495)
•
9 Aug 16
I don't know how to cook and I was never interested in learning it.
I buy cheap homemade meals outside, usually at the canteen owned by the same building owner. I get to save a lot compared to cooking at my place. I live alone so I think it wouldn't be practical on my part to cook food that I can't consume. Also, it saves a lot of time if I'll just buy from the canteen.
1 person likes this
@bsrikumar (151)
• Chennai, India
9 Aug 16
This is something that I usually talk or advice my friends about the cost difference.
1 person likes this
