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And that's another thing. On the rare occasions I do relent and eat out socially, I'm invariably the only one requesting a "doggie bag" or to-go box. It literally sickens me to see everybody leaving half their food (because they were too busy talking to eat it), knowing it will just be thrown in the trash. Food waste is yet another pet peeve of mine.
Personally, I practice intermittent fasting and eat OMAD, or just one meal a day. However, when I was working and following a "grazing" diet, I always packed my own food wherever I went. Not hard to do. Again, "eating out" is more a social convention than an actual need, and fast food is a convenience thing. I admit that it's also delicious and probably addictive. And, heck, it's fun!
Watch "My 600-Pound Life" on TLC to see fast food and take-out/delivery in all its glory.
And that's another thing! On the rare occasions I do relent and eat out socially, I'm invariably the only one requesting a "doggie bag" or to-go box. It literally sickens me to see everyone leaving half their food (because they were too busy talking to eat it), knowing it will just be thrown in the trash. Food waste is yet another pet peeve of mine.
We have that in common. When I do eat out though, I view it as a cost for 2 meals in most cases, unless DH and I have a consensus and we split it.
But eating out with friends is normally a bonding thing, so until I moved, meeting friends for brunch or dinner and drinks was definitely a "thing" that was done regularly.
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We have that in common. When I do eat out though, I view it as a cost for 2 meals in most cases, unless DH and I have a consensus and we split it.
But eating out with friends is normally a bonding thing, so until I moved, meeting friends for brunch or dinner and drinks was definitely a "thing" that was done regularly.
Definitely more of a social thing...and really, it's the drinks that kill you! A glass of wine is generally around $6 or $7! When I do go out, which is infrequently these days, I may just order an appetizer and drink to keep the cost somewhat reasonable. But definitely have cut back on both restaurant dining and fast food.
Definitely more of a social thing...and really, it's the drinks that kill you! A glass of wine is generally around $6 or $7! When I do go out, which is infrequently these days, I may just order an appetizer and drink to keep the cost somewhat reasonable. But definitely have cut back on both restaurant dining and fast food.
Because we so rarely eat out, we tend to splurge when we do. Honestly it is mainly when we go to NorCal, they have so much farm to table type restaurants and that's totally our thing. If you add in a good mixologist the bill will be painful. One LUNCH for DH and myself was over $100, BUT we did have a lot of leftovers and a few cocktails. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? It was insanely good food that I would not be able to cook at home, so a big yes.
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We tried out a new Italian restaurant last Friday, and with tip it was $90 for two. Worth it for the great food, but we won't be going there often. The worst though, was ordering flower delivery. I always send them to my wife, on her birthday. In the past it's been as little as $39 delivered, and has gone up every couple of years, but when I ordered them this weekend it was $88, same kind of bouquet, same florist. I checked around and they are all that expensive now. I would grow my own but her birthday is too early in the year for our climate.
My honey gets me bouquet bunches from the supermarket. They are a fraction of the price, and we already have vases at home. My birthday was last week and he got me 2 of them, one long stem roses and one a flower mix. I don't think I miss anything by having them "delivered" from him!
Definitely more of a social thing...and really, it's the drinks that kill you! A glass of wine is generally around $6 or $7! When I do go out, which is infrequently these days, I may just order an appetizer and drink to keep the cost somewhat reasonable. But definitely have cut back on both restaurant dining and fast food.
Our friends like to go out during Happy Hour with its 2-for-1 drinks. I'll just get an appetizer because I get tired of to-go boxes that only I seem to utilize (as someone said above). We all like to be back before dark so this all works out and saves money to boot. The locals come in after dark and we are gone by then so we avoid the crowds too. And the bill is only about $35 with 6 drinks, one appetizer, one meal. But it's mainly the social aspect that's valuable to us. And of course, just getting out. All the cafes are outdoors too.
Both my husbands knew not to buy me flowers, buy my something I can pot or plant.
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Our friends like to go out during Happy Hour with its 2-for-1 drinks. I'll just get an appetizer because I get tired of to-go boxes that only I seem to utilize (as someone said above). We all like to be back before dark so this all works out and saves money to boot. The locals come in after dark and we are gone by then so we avoid the crowds too. And the bill is only about $35 with 6 drinks, one appetizer, one meal. But it's mainly the social aspect that's valuable to us. And of course, just getting out. All the cafes are outdoors too.
I don't know why "socializing" today always has to involve eating and, specifically, "going out to eat." There are other things to do!
I also don't understand the allure of eating out. It's so very obviously a rip-off! Some enjoy the social aspect, as it's almost always done with others and seems to be required by friend groups, despite every member having a home in which to entertain. Some enjoy the feeling of being served and waited on; I often hear "I deserve this." I suppose some are just lazy (I am, too, but I'm more likely to open a can of something or zap a frozen dinner than pay out the wazoo for take-out). Then there are probably quite a few young people who haven't the foggiest idea how to prepare ANY food, however simple, because they've grown up eating take-out, drive-thru, or restaurant food all their lives. I hike with people, and when I pass on the meal out afterwards, it's frowned upon; I was even once told "it's part of it." I get it, but the upcharges are ridiculous!
It's not seen by everyone as a "rip-off". It is that if you are comparing the cost of purchasing and cooking food for yourself against paying what you pay in a restaurant, but money is not always the only factor by which everyone makes their decisions.
When dining out, one is simply not paying for food. At a restaurant, the patron pays for the privilege of having someone else shop for, cook, and serve their meals and clean up afterward. Then there are additional features that one might consider paying for such as dining in a certain location; for example, a restaurant with a view of the ocean or to sample the talents of a particular chef. And of course there is the social aspect of sharing meals out with others whose company you enjoy.
If one is focused on the basic monetary value of the food alone, then no, one would not enjoy dining out, I imagine.
Last edited by Mightyqueen801; 04-06-2022 at 05:23 PM..
Reason: Typo
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One LUNCH for DH and myself was over $100, BUT we did have a lot of leftovers and a few cocktails. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? It was insanely good food that I would not be able to cook at home, so a big yes.
