Are you reducing your eating out expenses?

[ChrissyRyan]

With restaurant prices seemingly going up a lot, are you reducing your eating out expenses?
Then there is tip percentage creep and service charges.

Perhaps you are eating out less often, but maybe treating yourself to a nicer meal because you are eating out less often?

Many restaurants have increased their menu prices by 40% or more over the last five years.
Seems more than what inflation has been over the last five years. 

[D'Amalie]

Certainly!  Like our water bill, up 40% in two years.

[Annaliese]

I stopped going out. Am on a diet lol. Trying to lose weight 😫. I started at 198 on 10 February and now 177. 🙃  My goal is 152. Then ,I'll celebrate with a dining out (maybe). Not sure how this all fat distribution stuff works and all.

[Lori Dee]

I don't eat out very often anyway. I eat for survival and not to explore culinary delights. On occasion, I will crave a Bison Burger, or Mexican food, or just want to hang out with my Bestie, so I will go to a restaurant. But mostly, I don't find the cost justifiable. But that is just me.

[Devlyn]

I have, I moved to a country with less expensive food. 

Hugs, Devlyn

[Sephirah]

I have, I moved to a country with less expensive food. 

Hugs, Devlyn

LOL! Dev, practical as ever.

I rarely ever eat out. Mostly for practical reasons but also because it's just too expensive. Even takeout is silly money compared to what you can just do yourself at home. A pizza that used to cost £7 is now closer to £15. And I would argue that they are not better than some of the good chilled or frozen pizzas you can cook at home. Or, yes, do the whole Gordon Ramsay thing and make a huge mess by making your own. I'll go with Chicago Town, lol.

[kat2]

I usually look out two for the price of one (meal) or meal and a drink, I get alot of invites out for evening meals so its hard to say no, but i always have small portions or low fat

[ChrissyRyan]

Yes there are specials and they can be worthwhile searching for to save money.

[Sephirah]

Yes there are specials and they can be worthwhile searching for to save money.

I think it's an entirely different culture in the US, though. I've seen some of the portions you folks get over there. You could feed like 4 people on the stuff one person will eat. You don't just supersize, you gigasize. I watched a food review recently by someone who went to Katz Deli in New York. The size of those sandwiches is honestly unreal. The term "Sandwich" is a technicality. The bread is only there to give it a word. You get enough meat for like a Sunday roast. The guy was talking about if it was too expensive. Considering the fare you get in the UK... I think it's very reasonable.

Also, @Devlyn, you moved to Spain right? Or did I get that wrong? I remember you saying something about Barcelona? Over there is probably the world's best Chorizo sausage. Hands down better than anything you can get anywhere else in the world. I had some imported last year. It was amazing.

[Devlyn]

I think it's an entirely different culture in the US, though. I've seen some of the portions you folks get over there. You could feed like 4 people on the stuff one person will eat. You don't just supersize, you gigasize. I watched a food review recently by someone who went to Katz Deli in New York. The size of those sandwiches is honestly unreal. The term "Sandwich" is a technicality. The bread is only there to give it a word. You get enough meat for like a Sunday roast. The guy was talking about if it was too expensive. Considering the fare you get in the UK... I think it's very reasonable.

Also, @Devlyn, you moved to Spain right? Or did I get that wrong? I remember you saying something about Barcelona? Over there is probably the world's best Chorizo sausage. Hands down better than anything you can get anywhere else in the world. I had some imported last year. It was amazing.

Yup, Barcelona. I just changed the country flag on my profile, it's having a hard time keeping
up with me.   

I got a paper cone of sausage samples down at the market, there must have been a dozen different kinds. All delicious! And guess what? Our local supermarket stocks salad cream and Hendo's. 

Hugs, Devlyn

[Devlyn]

Also, I've been to Katz deli, that was amazing.

Also also.....I worked in a chippy when I was in the UK. I was the chips girl. Let's not have any finger pointing about portion sizes. The British would have burned the shop to the ground if they weren't getting a canoe's worth of chips with their order! 

Hugs, Devlyn

[Sephirah]

Yup, Barcelona. I just changed the country flag on my profile, it's having a hard time keeping
up with me.   

I got a paper cone of sausage samples down at the market, there must have been a dozen different kinds. All delicious! And guess what? Our local supermarket stocks salad cream and Hendo's. 

Hugs, Devlyn

Totally not envious at all. I doubt I could handle the warmer climate but the food... yeah... most of Europe has it going on. I know someone else who lives there, a UK ex-pat. He's a teacher. Says it's the best cuisine you can get. I don't doubt it.

[Sephirah]

Also, I've been to Katz deli, that was amazing.

Also also.....I worked in a chippy when I was in the UK. I was the chips girl. Let's not have any finger pointing about portion sizes. The British would have burned the shop to the ground if they weren't getting a canoe's worth of chips with their order! 

Hugs, Devlyn

Hahaha, yeah but see chippies are like an anomaly. As a northern lass I grew up on chippie teas. In the north, you get a whole potato field full, but places like london, you get an egg cup full and have to say thank you.

I salute you for working there. They were the soundtrack to northern weekends. <3

Did you do scraps?

[ChrissyRyan]

Well if you do go to Katz's you do get a lot of meat.


For supersize, that usually means just more fries and a larger drink here.
The sandwich is not any bigger.

[Lori Dee]

The sandwich is not any bigger.

I went to a restaurant with my parents and ordered just a cheeseburger and fries. The burger was 1/3 pound patty! I couldn't eat it all.

But you are correct that usually supersizing means larger orders of fries and larger drinks only.

[Devlyn]

Hahaha, yeah but see chippies are like an anomaly. As a northern lass I grew up on chippie teas. In the north, you get a whole potato field full, but places like london, you get an egg cup full and have to say thank you.

I salute you for working there. They were the soundtrack to northern weekends. <3

Did you do scraps?

Does a bear do it's business in the woods? 

To my American friends,  never let a British person scold you about portion sizes. Look at what they're eating!

[davina61]

My mum gets a fish and chip , she gets 3 meals out of it. Egg and chips for the last one and she reheats the chips in the fry pan ,I told her to use her air fryer. I dont eat out ,cant afford it!

[ChrissyRyan]

Does a bear do it's business in the woods? 

To my American friends,  never let a British person scold you about portion sizes. Look at what they're eating!

That is a lot of chips.  It could be the entree by itself.

[ChrissyRyan]

My mum gets a fish and chip , she gets 3 meals out of it. Egg and chips for the last one and she reheats the chips in the fry pan ,I told her to use her air fryer. I dont eat out ,cant afford it!

It is easy to get deals at the grocery stores, esp. if you get in there early before work and get the early day meat discounts.  You just need to use the meat up one day sooner or freeze it.
I do not freeze costlier meats though. 

Chrissy

[ChrissyRyan]

Many groceries marked down hams to like 1/3 of their usual price this past week.

Chrissy