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Seems to me that people spend a lot of their income on eating out

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Kraftwerk

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I used to live in the Middle East, and cooking at home was the norm. Everyone cooked and took food to work/school etc. When I started Traveling and living abroad throughout the past 15 years, I noticed that people buy food all the time.

Just as an example, when I started my first job as a teenager in a retail store: me and all my co-workers made minimum wage. Naturally, everyone complained how broke they were. Then the same people, would buy lunch every single day, plus drinks and snacks and whatnot throughout the day. At the end of each month that is a few hundred dollars. I always brought home cooked meals. A lot of them found it weird...

I don't want to sound all high and mighty, just trying to see the rationality in this phenomenon.

I know not everyone has the time to cook, but this is very widespread. I'm not exxagerating when I say that every single person i know from class and work buys lunch. That's $6-$10+ a day. That is besides the other shit they buy to eat through the day.

I understand that life is about enjoying yourself, but what enjoyment do my friends find in spending hundreds of dollars on fast food and then barely making rent.

"exhales"

Phew...


It is really easy to be honest. You can make a few different meals and salads on your day off, put them in containers and just keep them in the fridge. Eat them for the next 3-4 days.

Think about it....you will save so much money.

Just trying to be rational and helpful *gulp*


p.s this is not about going to a restaurant or a bar on Friday night.
 
Well, a lot of people don't know how to cook.

Also, from what I know about cooking, it's really complicated and a lot of effort for little gain. The main "pro" is that you save money, and that's not enough for some people.

I do want to learn how to cook though.
 
Its definitely a popular thing to do, especially among young adults in the workforce. I have older co-workers who don't do it anymore because they realize how much money is spent at restaurants over time. But for younger people its about socializing with co-workers, blowing off steam, and not cooking. Also there's a whole culture of trying out restaurants, being adventurous, seeking out new cuisines and stuff.
 
artwalknoon said:
Its definitely a popular thing to do, especially among young adults in the workforce. I older co-workers who don't do it anymore because they realize how much money is spent at restaurants over time. But for younger people its about socializing with co-workers, blowing off steam, and not cooking. Also there's a whole culture of trying out restaurants, being adventurous, seeking out new cuisines and stuff.
Click to expand...

it's this for me, especially if you live in an area with lots of great restaurants
 
Korey said:
Well, a lot of people don't know how to cook.

Also, from what I know about cooking, it's really complicated and a lot of effort for little gain. The main "pro" is that you save money, and that's not enough for some people.

I do want to learn how to cook though.
Click to expand...

If you can read, you can cook.

When I was told that by my mother, I said CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. It is so easy, I swear. Start with easier recipes, that are quick, and then move onto meals that take preparation.
 
Fast food restaurants (or any restaurant really) provides you with food for the soul. Yeah its a huge money sink, but oh-so worth it. I can't go a week without buying Subway at least once or twice every 3-4 days.
 
Korey said:
Well, a lot of people don't know how to cook.

Also, from what I know about cooking, it's really complicated and a lot of effort for little gain. The main "pro" is that you save money, and that's not enough for some people.

I do want to learn how to cook though.
Click to expand...

Cooking is fucking easy. Especially with all the resources available on the internet (allrecipes.com is a great site and has an iOS/android app). Besides the obvious of saving money, I like being able to make things exactly the way I like them. I'm also someone who loves leftovers, so making a huge thing of chicken noodle soup can equal multiple meals a week for my wife and me.
 
Korey said:
Also, from what I know about cooking, it's really complicated and a lot of effort for little gain. The main "pro" is that you save money, and that's not enough for some people.
Click to expand...

So you don't know anything about cooking at all.


Korey said:
I do want to learn how to cook though.
Click to expand...

It's not that hard. Look up recipes online or buy a book. It's just a matter of buying the ingredients and following instructions.
 
I eat out a fair bit (1-2 times a week). I don't care about the money I'll save because it's not about that. I'm spending that money for a different kind of recreational experience. It's not just about the variety of foods, the convenience etc, but the atmosphere, ambience, fun factor et all.

Some people go to a club, others to a pub, others cinema, restaurants, malls, holidays etc etc. They all sort of fall under the umbrella of social activities for me.

Personally, having tried hundreds (maybe even thousands) of restaurants across the world, it's been a great experience for a foody like me. I've experienced weird and wonderful dishes, flavour combinations, ingredients, decor, designs etc etc I otherwise wouldn't have.
 
what do you think oxygen is going to cost when someone figures out how to harvest it and consolidate it and serve it to people who need it??

HUH.. TACO BELL??
 
I spend a huge proportion of my income on good restaurants. I make a comfortable but far from spectacular living, yet I've flown to different countries for the express reason to have a few meals.

The way I justify it is that food is one of the very few things in the world where I can have the absolute best there is. I can't afford the nicest house, the fastest car, the nicest clothes, the best bottles of wine. I can, however, eat better than anyone else on one given night.

I also cook a lot to save money.
 
Where I live, it is cheaper to eat at a restaurant then it is to buy a pack of bacon. Whilst Bacon is unusually expensive here, the amount that I would save cooking as opposed to going out is miniscule simply because of how cheap restaurants are. Really kills any desire I have to try and cook.
 
I really need to spend less money eating out. I'm only a student living off campus but I constantly splurge on coffee/bagel/lunch throughout the day at campus. It really does add up over the course of a month. I usually make my own food but that's when I have time to come home for lunch/dinner, I need to learn to pack food when I don't have that time. /sigh
 
Korey said:
Well, a lot of people don't know how to cook.

Also, from what I know about cooking, it's really complicated and a lot of effort for little gain. The main "pro" is that you save money, and that's not enough for some people.

I do want to learn how to cook though.
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What the fuck.

Ceasar salad you make at home: $2

Ceasar salad you buy at a restaurant: $8
 
Also "eating out" usually involves eating fast food or other disgusting stuff that'll make you fat. It doesn't just kill your wallet, it kills you.
 
Cooking is fun, and I enjoy the process as much as I do the results.

That said, I also really enjoy trying new restaurants with friends and with my wife. It can absolutely be worth the money.

But eating out every night, or every meal? Totally dumb.
 
Cooking rock. You have total control of what goes it, including cooking fats--those vegetable oils are terrible for health and that's what most restaurants use. Plus, no need to worry if the fry cook dropped your order and put in back in the plate.
 
While I like eating out every now and then

a packet of 12 Chicken Breast is like 8-9$

Rice is like 20$ for 20lbs

I can buy two 12 chicken packets for like 16$ and the 20$ 20lb rice bag and eat for a fucking month.
pound chicken flat make like 2 slabs out of 1 chicken breast
it's simple a little salt a little pepper and stick it on a skillet or grill for 10 minutes 5 minutes per side

cook the rice in a rice cooker

BOOM DINNER IN 30

SGHwX.jpg
 
younger days with less bills, eat out every friday night and weekends

Now... get something off of one of those restaurant sites with coupons.

When I did a numbers check on how much I spent eating out I was stunned.
 
blame space said:
what do you think oxygen is going to cost when someone figures out how to harvest it and consolidate it and serve it to people who need it??

HUH.. TACO BELL??
Click to expand...
I've always been interested in owning a oxygen bar.

Funny that this thread just popped up. My best friend told me he spend about $500 between him and his girlfriend when they go out and eat. He gets paid every 2 weeks and makes about almost two grand but $500?!?!!? And they're both perfectly healthy, fit people but thats all they do when they do go out. Eat!
 
Emily Chu said:
While I like eating out every now and then

a packet of 12 Chicken Breast is like 8-9$

Rice is like 20$ for 20lbs

I can buy two 12 chicken packets for like 16$ and the 20$ 20lb rice bag and eat for a fucking month.
pound chicken flat make like 2 slabs out of 1 chicken breast
it's simple a little salt a little pepper and stick it on a skillet or grill for 10 minutes 5 minutes per side

cook the rice in a rice cooker

BOOM DINNER IN 30

SGHwX.jpg
Click to expand...

I do this very often. It also tastes fantastic if you get the breaded fillets and put some teriyaki sauce with it
 
Yeah I really hate looking at my bank account every month and see all that wasted money on food. I keep telling myself that I should start bringing more food from home, but then when all my friends just go out and eat, peer pressure gets the better of me. Plus I never wake up early to get to class so I don't have much time to prepare.
 
You don't have to, you know. Prostitutes don't care one way or the oth....


oh...


OH


Umm....yeah, I only get pizza like once a month.

>.>
 
Kraftwerk said:
If you can read, you can cook.

When I was told that by my mother, I said CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. It is so easy, I swear. Start with easier recipes, that are quick, and then move onto meals that take preparation.
Click to expand...

This. Cooking, I feel, is an important life skill that everyone should learn to some degree.
 
Cuz it's fun brah. It's like a social getaway from hectic busy lives.

But yeah cooking should be done most of the time! Weekends though, I love to eat out.
 
Eating out is a social thing to me. Me and my friends bond over a love of different foods and we enjoy trying out new restaurants, pubs, etc. together. It's expensive and I know that once I move out on my own I won't be able to afford it as often.

I wouldn't waste my money on fast food lunches everyday, though. I'm not going to spend money on a meal out if I'm alone, unless I'm spending all day at school/work.
 
Home cooked meals are so godly.

Yesterday, I had two chicken breast wrapped in turkey bacon, a cup of green beans, and 2 cups of romaine lettuce with sun dried tomato salad dressing and 1/4 cup of bacon bits and shredded cheese. So. Fucking. Good.
 
I'm very guilty of this. Although, to my credit, I did bring home cooked meals for a period of time.
 
30+ min to make dinner and clean up after.

5 or less to swing by a fast food joint on the way home. (plus you can easily eat for 4 dollars or less at one. Much easier if you just get a water)
 
Yea I can say with confidence that I spend most of my money on food and its stupid. I keep it cheap though. I mostly get subway everyday for lunch but I still feel like an arse. Im trying to take my lunch to work everyday and such these days though.

Trying.

There are people at my job who spend a good $15 a day on lunch though. That seems silly to me.
 
I make buttloads of money and still pack my lunch. It's usually healthier and it saves tons of money.

All of my wife's coworkers complain how she always says eating out is too expensive, then she hears them complaining about not having any money. It's just silly.
 
I gotta admit that if I had the means to eat out much more, I would do that over cooking.

I'm just getting lazy when it comes to cooking. I mean I usually skip dinner to save on food spending, but during the weekends I gotta cook and it sucks....

...when it comes to the day when I have to cook lunch for the group at work I hate it unless I'm making pork chops. So yeah, I just don't like cooking.

When I was young I never cooked or really had anyone cook for me either. Just grew up that way.
 
Most of my coworkers go out for lunch every day. I live very close to work so I usually just go eat at home.
 
WinoMcCougarstein said:
Most of my coworkers go out for lunch every day. I live very close to work so I usually just go eat at home.
Click to expand...

Pretty much this.

Also, worth noting: Most of my co-workers who eat out regularly and are older are overweight and many of them are not looking forward to the company's wellness initiative that will be implemented this year.
 
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