Fast Food is Getting Ridiculous
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (100904)
United States
June 3, 2024 6:50am CST
They were talking about fast food the other day on the news, saying it is now considered a luxury item due to the fast-rising costs of eating at fast food restaurants. And the prices certainly have risen dramatically recently.
My wife and I don't eat fast food all that often. But we do have it on occasion.
Such as last week. We got back home from a camping trip, and we didn't have much in the house to eat for a quick lunch, so we decided to stop by A&W and grab something.
I had a double bacon cheeseburger and my wife had hand tossed chicken fingers. We also ordered a large order of fried cheese curds. We didn't get any drinks since we were taking it home and prefer water anyway. But that cost $32.
And the other day we decided to have lunch at Hardees. I got a mushroom and Swiss burger, and she got a hand tossed chicken sandwich, and we added a large order of fries.
Again, we didn't get any drinks. That meal cost us almost $20.
I think about a family of four going to McDonald's for a quick meal and can easily see it costing over $100. That's just nuts to me. Granted, inflation is hitting everyone and much of the higher cost is due to the higher cost of the raw materials, and higher labor costs are also a factor of course as well.
But at some point, people are just going to stay home and make a sandwich. I can buy a 2-pound package of ham for about $9 at Walmart and that'll make at least 20 sandwiches.
27 people like this
26 responses
@annierose (21570)
• Philippines
3 Jun 24
That does seem like a steep increase in prices! It's understandable how those costs add up, especially for families. Home-cooked meals can definitely be a more budget-friendly option.
4 people like this
@annierose (21570)
• Philippines
3 Jun 24
@porwest That's true, Jim. The affordability of fast food used to be a convenient option. It's interesting how things have changed over time.
3 people like this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
3 Jun 24
Home cooked meals are always cheaper, and always have been. But at least if someone DID decide to stop for a quick bite at a fast-food restaurant, they weren't going to break the bank. My wife and I could get something for both of us for under $10 most of the time. Those days are long gone.
3 people like this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
3 Jun 24
@annierose Who knows if eating at fast food places ever becomes economical again? I guess we will have to wait and see.
3 people like this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
3 Jun 24
I have almost always been a home cooked meal kind of a guy. But grabbing a quick, fast bite at a grease mill from time to time was something that didn't bother me so much when it was "economical" to do it. The economy has been literally tossed out the window.
3 people like this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
4 Jun 24
@LadyDuck Quality is definitely another factor. And surprisingly so considering most fast-food restaurants have gone to "made to order" platforms, and since they've done that, it takes longer to get it and it seems less fresh when you do.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (164152)
• United States
3 Jun 24
We had appointments that kept us away from home last Friday. While Bob was in his treatments I did a little shopping. Part of my $28 bill was food to make a picnic. We ate well, had fun, and saved a bunch. The only thing worse than the prices of fast food is when the expensive meals turn out to be of poor quality as well.
3 people like this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
4 Jun 24
I am actually a bit surprised how much fast-food quality has gone down considering they changed to "made to order" platforms. Ever since they did that, for whatever reason, now you wait longer but the food seems less fresh when you get it. I don't get it.
@lovebuglena (46748)
• Staten Island, New York
3 Jun 24
I don’t eat fast food. These prices are ridiculous.
3 people like this
@lovebuglena (46748)
• Staten Island, New York
4 Jun 24
@porwest what about the food we buy at the store? A lot of it has stuff in it that shouldn’t be there. And prices are high.
2 people like this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
7 Jun 24
@lovebuglena Nearly everything is processed in some way or another anymore.
1 person likes this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
3 Jun 24
There is one thing many people do not understand about inflation. It already happened. So, even when inflation returns to normal, it doesn't mean prices will go down. It just means all you can hope for is that wages once again outpace inflation to balance things out.
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (39980)
• United States
3 Jun 24
Yup, it is terrible. Everyone is feeling it. I don't go fast food anymore. Good to see you.
2 people like this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
3 Jun 24
Many people aren't which is why many fast-food places are opting for reintroducing value meals and menus. But that unfortunately comes at a cost. The businesses either break even or lose money on every value meal they sell. It's hurting the businesses.
Inflation is such an awful thing, and it doesn't appear to be going away any time soon.
2 people like this
@Firestorm0122 (735)
• United States
3 Jun 24
The high cost of fast food places is one reason I don't eat out as much. Where I live, a double cheeseburger used to be a $1.00, now they want almost $3 for one. Add to the fact that sometimes when I received my food, the sandwiches were always slapped together and always looked like a mess when I unwrapped them. I've been making my own cheeseburgers at home these days instead of eating out.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (75710)
• United States
3 Jun 24
We tried to warn people when they started clamoring for $15-an-hour minimum wages: “Hey, SOMEBODY is going to have to pay for that.” You can’t pay someone fifteen bucks an hour with 79c hamburgers.
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (84970)
• United States
3 Jun 24
Fast food isn't affordable anymore nor is it fast. Some of the places here are so slow and I'm not surprised that your lunches were as expensive as they were. Recently my daughters brought home lunch from McDonalds and it was $40. I was shocked since we rarely ever have fast food. It hurt since it was my treat 
2 people like this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
7 Jun 24
The odd thing to me is that even though the food at fast food places is now pretty much "made to order," it never seems as fresh as when it sat pre-made under the lamps for 15 minutes. I guess it is what it is. We get less for more and now even the quality is less. Ugh.
1 person likes this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
3 Jun 24
Well, probably way more absurd there for you now, being its California and they are having to pay $20 an hour for their workers. As the old saying goes, money doesn't grow out of trees, and you can't get blood out of a stone. Someone will pay the price...and here we are.
2 people like this
@sharonelton (30647)
• Lichfield, England
3 Jun 24
I don't eat fast food. I used to eat at McDonald's now and then, but not any more. Not since I went on the macrobiotic diet.
Last Monday it was the Lichfield Greenhill Bower so we had our lunch out. We went to the Jungle Street Kitchen and I had Coco King Prawns and some Jasmine green tea. My Mum had a Salmon Catch but no drink. It came to about £35. I'll be going there for my birthday meal in July, and then I'm going to have a Salmon Catch.
2 people like this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
5 Jun
I eat much less fast food now than I did when I was younger. Nowadays when I have it, it;s really just a treat. I still like fast food, but I know it's not particularly good for me. And of course, the older we get, the more we have to watch what we eat.
1 person likes this
@sharonelton (30647)
• Lichfield, England
9 Jun
@porwest You took over a year to reply to that comment!
That's right. Fast food really isn't good for you and when we get older we do have to watch what we eat. It's good to try and eat a healthy diet.
We went to the Jungle Street kitchen again this year on Bower day, and this time me and my Mum both had salmon catch.
That's right. Fast food really isn't good for you and when we get older we do have to watch what we eat. It's good to try and eat a healthy diet.
We went to the Jungle Street kitchen again this year on Bower day, and this time me and my Mum both had salmon catch.1 person likes this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
11 Jun
@sharonelton From time to time I always go back to see if I missed something. Invariably, I always do. lol
Moderation is always key, and that becomes more and more important and true as we get older.
As for salmon, that's my absolute favorite fish to eat.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124659)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 24
I used to eat fast-food on a pretty frequent basis, but since inflation has driven the cost of meals up, I've pretty much given up on fast-food. I do find myself cooking more at home, and making more sandwiches and stretching leftovers further.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124659)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun
@porwest I still don't know how to cook well, and neither does my girlfriend or daughter. But we're trying.
1 person likes this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
11 Jun
@moffittjc Cooking and knowing how to do it is a must for me. But I guess that's a prerequisite for being THE cook in the house. lol
@JESSY3236 (20637)
• United States
4 Jun 24
Yeah it's crazy. I don't eat fast food anymore. I only would eat fries, but I want to eat healthier now.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (191210)
• United States
4 Jun 24
I have such a taste for DQ's chicken strips box. I always get the big portion so I can make two meals out of it. Very expensive; but I don't get it that often. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (191210)
• United States
8 Jun 24
@porwest Yes hubby likes their burgers too. I'm hooked on the chicken strips, fries and garlic toast.
1 person likes this
@porwest (100904)
• United States
11 Jun 24
@LindaOHio Funny it's like that for you since it's pretty much the same here. I get burgers and most of the time my wife gets chicken fingers or a chicken sandwich. lol
1 person likes this
@SIDIKIMPOLE (2342)
• Eldoret, Kenya
5 Jun 24
I have no problem with fast food. I have a problem with myself, I am too much addicted to it that I cannot think of a life without it!
1 person likes this
