Take away food and the cost

[Jalapeñomel]

I’m in tech week, so I had to get FF this week. I was SHOCKED at how much it cost for two kids. How is this a thing?

[keyslover]

It is insane! FF is supposed to be a cheaper alternative to a sit down restaurant, I don't really feel like that is the case anymore.

[circa1978]

I had to download the Taco Bell app to try to keep my teen son's costs under control. He can easily down 5 tacos and a drink + still be hungry and that's about $14. Insane but now we at least get "rewards."

[isabel]

We’ve had McDonald’s and Wendy’s a lot because it’s ski season and we tend to grab fast food on our way up so the kids are full before we get going. It’s so expensive! Even with the apps and rewards it just feels like crazy money to me.

[laurack]

It’s gotten very expensive. I took four kids to McDonald’s recently on the way home from skiing and it cost me 60 bucks and I didn’t even order anything. Ok they did all want McFlurrys as well as nugget meals but still. It used to be way cheaper.

[thebreakfastclub]

For my son, I'll use the McDonald's app for their savings. Also no drink if we're just going home anyway and no Happy Meals lol.
That's how I grew up though, Happy Meals were not in the budget. Each kid got a cheeseburger and we split fries and a drink.

I sometimes think about that if I'm at a place like Costco and I see a family of 4 and they all got their own drink at the food court. There is no buying 4 drinks when we can buy 1 and get the free refills. Or each kid gets the huge slice of pizza and they can't eat it all, while I'm getting one slice and cutting it down the middle for my son and me to share.

I feel like those things are ingrained in my brain. I know it's why I've never used food delivery. We were at a friend's house and he he door dashed ice cream pints from 7-11 and I was in a different world.

[loira]

Agree the cost is absurd. We used to get takeout nearly weekly during the pandemic. Part of it was that we wanted to support local businesses, but also it was a heck of a lot cheaper. Now we have a rule that we don't get it more than once every couple of months.

[Jalapeñomel]

Mar 16, 2024 9:54:55 GMT -5 circa1978 said:

I had to download the Taco Bell app to try to keep my teen son's costs under control. He can easily down 5 tacos and a drink + still be hungry and that's about $14. Insane but now we at least get "rewards."

Taco Bell was always the cheap option for a ton of tacos. 🌮

[expectantsteelerfan]

Fast food for a teenager is killing my budget. I don't even eat when I order it, but for my 2 kids and my dh, it's been costing $50+. And we also don't get drinks (unless it's cheaper because of meals, which it sometimes is). But apparently 20 nuggets and fries is no longer enough for 14 year old ds, so he needs a sandwich too.

His preferred order at chick fil a is 3 chick fil a sandwiches, 8 nuggets, and fries. And he eats it all.

[namasteak]

We have done French fry Friday for years and at this point it's $15 for a few large fries and small sodas from fast food places ! It used to be a $5 treat only 5 years ago ....

[sent]

Mar 16, 2024 10:29:39 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

...while I'm getting one slice and cutting it down the middle for my son and me to share.

I feel like those things are ingrained in my brain. I know it's why I've never used food delivery. We were at a friend's house and he he door dashed ice cream pints from 7-11 and I was in a different world.

I grew up having to share a 6 pack McNuggets as a snack/treat with my younger brother. My mom always split it 4/2 with me getting the 2. I never liked it then so I usually don't make my kids share if I don't have to.

But I hear you on the food delivery. My husband uses it all the time for dumb things like Wendy's when he could just get in the car and go in the drive through vs. continue to sit on the couch and watch TV. I don't get it either. 

[dochas]

Mar 16, 2024 10:29:39 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

For my son, I'll use the McDonald's app for their savings. Also no drink if we're just going home anyway and no Happy Meals lol.
That's how I grew up though, Happy Meals were not in the budget. Each kid got a cheeseburger and we split fries and a drink.

I sometimes think about that if I'm at a place like Costco and I see a family of 4 and they all got their own drink at the food court. There is no buying 4 drinks when we can buy 1 and get the free refills. Or each kid gets the huge slice of pizza and they can't eat it all, while I'm getting one slice and cutting it down the middle for my son and me to share.

I feel like those things are ingrained in my brain. I know it's why I've never used food delivery. We were at a friend's house and he he door dashed ice cream pints from 7-11 and I was in a different world.

Yes, to all of this. I grew up poor and it has sure come in handy. McDonald's app, Burger King app and no drinks! Then I use the rewards points to get him ice cream or a shake for a random treat when we're not having food! Wednesday is free whopper night. It sucks a little to have to plan fast food but I was raised for this. LOL When I started dating my husband and we were getting breakfast sandwiches to go from a coffee shop and he asked me to grab him a Tropicana OJ I thought, "ok, Richie Rich!"

[VillainV]

Using the app makes it less expensive. McDonald’s has a “reward” that’s always active that you can use once a day for 20% off any order over $10. Taco Bell earns rewards pretty quickly, and it works out to one free item every visit or every other visit depending on how much you order.

[skidunks]

I took the boys and DS1’s gf to Chik fil A a few weeks ago and for the four of us it was $50! We don’t get FF that often so I didn’t realize how expensive it was going to be.

[felicity]

We usually spend around $20 at Mcdonalds or Wendy's for our family of 4 with a toddler and 9 year old, and we don't get a lot. The apps help a lot to keep it reasonable but it's still expensive for what we get. Usually we get 10 nuggets for the kids to share, two chicken sandwiches, and one large fries. We usually bring it home and eat salad and fruit with it from home.

We also do Chipotle a lot and it's around $28 for two adult meals and only one kids meal since our toddler won't eat it. I always use the app for that too because sometimes we'll get something free out of it.

ETA: We're water drinkers, so even if we eat there we never get drinks, just cups for water. That definitely helps to keep the cost down.

[heygrey]

We've almost completely cut out fast food because of the price. I have started keeping the "fancy" frozen pizzas in the freezer for nights we don't have time/desire to cook because, at $8, it is still way cheaper than getting 2-3 meals at a drive thru.


We are planning a road trip though the western US this summer and paying for that with a Canadian budget which is $$$. I am already planning all of the shelf stable snacks I can pack plus taking a cooler for the portion we're in Yellowstone with limited food options. There are a few restaurants we are planning nice meals at along the way, but a lot of this trip will be old school pb&j while sitting on the back bumper of the car. 

[noodleoo]

Mar 16, 2024 11:14:17 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Using the app makes it less expensive. McDonald’s has a “reward” that’s always active that you can use once a day for 20% off any order over $10. Taco Bell earns rewards pretty quickly, and it works out to one free item every visit or every other visit depending on how much you order.

We only go to McDonalds because of the app coupons. We can get lunch for us and the kids (5 and 8 so little) for $25. There’s no where else we can eat for that little. We all share 40 nuggets (plus sandwich for H) and a large fries, Happy Meals are too small for my kids!

Restaurant prices in general are insane. We went out for pizza and it cost $100. When did a pizza starts costing $25 each?!?

[Leeham Rimes]

Not that we are tons of FF in the past but we’ve definitely cut down tremendously in the past few years.

I’m still salty at spending $125 at a BREAKFAST RESTAURANT last year Legit pancakes/bacon/eggs for 4 people. Breakfast is supposed to be the cheaper of the meals!!

[felicity]

Oh another thing we do that's pretty cheap is Papa John's pizza. They have a $10 large pizza take out deal that we use a lot.

[eddy]

We used to get delivery once a week and now have reduced that down getting it line once every two months. I absolutely refuse to pay the insane prices.

Honestly it is the same cost to go sit in a restaurant even with drinks.

[mcppalmbeach]

Mar 16, 2024 11:48:34 GMT -5 felicity said:

Oh another thing we do that's pretty cheap is Papa John's pizza. They have a $10 large pizza take out deal that we use a lot.

Ha! Depends on your area! We rarely see a deal that good. My two older kids love Papa John’s and they often request that for the birthday dinners we have with their grandparents. In January my total was over $60 for 2 cheese and 1 pepperoni. For fast food pizza!! I did find a coupon to lower my total a bit, but it was still like $18 a pizza!

[wanderlustmom]

Yes I agree with others. It helps to use the app, only drink water, split meals and get the veggie option at places like Chipotle. I had a burrito that should have been two meals for $10 but I was so hungry after tennis I wolfed it down. I can also get the Moes or Willys kids meal for $5 and that even comes with a small drink and cookie. I know some places let adults get the kids meals and some don't. Also the McDonalds kids meal is a good deal and it comes with apples. Or I can do a bowl/cup of soup for sometimes 3-5 dollars.

[gretchenindisguise]

Ugh. I've been avoiding the McDs app, but apparently I should succumb and download it.

I also hate how much it is.

[stemmie]

Fast food has gotten pricey across the board since the pandemic.

DH, DS and I went to 5 Guys a few months ago and the tab was well over $50- for 2 "little" burgers, a hot dog, a shared small fry and 3 drinks. At that price we can go to a local dive bar, have better burgers, 2 beers, table service and ambiance that doesn't feel like a mens room.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Mar 16, 2024 11:48:34 GMT -5 felicity said:

Oh another thing we do that's pretty cheap is Papa John's pizza. They have a $10 large pizza take out deal that we use a lot.

There is a local pizza place that has a large carry-out pizza deal near us, and their large is LARGE, like too big to fit on the front seat of my car so I have to put it in the trunk large.  We started ordering from there a few years ago on the way home from swim team because it's on the side of town near the pool, and then it was $9 for the carry-out large.  It has gone up a dollar a year, so it is now up to $12 for the same pizza.  But it is still the best deal for pizza around.

But I'm surprised by the pp who said pizza was just as expensive as fast food.  It's cheaper for us.  We just got 2 larges, breadstick bites, a 2 liter, and a salad from Vocellli's last night (it was a meal deal) for $35.  And that fed all 4 of us for dinner last night, plus we had leftovers for lunch today.  So that is our best deal for eating out around here by far.  

[felicity]

Mar 16, 2024 12:10:56 GMT -5 stemmie said:

Fast food has gotten pricey across the board since the pandemic.

DH, DS and I went to 5 Guys a few months ago and the tab was well over $50- for 2 "little" burgers, a hot dog, a shared small fry and 3 drinks. At that price we can go to a local dive bar, have better burgers, 2 beers, table service and ambiance that doesn't feel like a mens room.

We have a large local FB group for food/restaurant discussion, and Five Guys is regularly mocked on there. Their prices are insane.

[felicity]

Mar 16, 2024 12:16:45 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

Mar 16, 2024 11:48:34 GMT -5 felicity said:

Oh another thing we do that's pretty cheap is Papa John's pizza. They have a $10 large pizza take out deal that we use a lot.

There is a local pizza place that has a large carry-out pizza deal near us, and their large is LARGE, like too big to fit on the front seat of my car so I have to put it in the trunk large.  We started ordering from there a few years ago on the way home from swim team because it's on the side of town near the pool, and then it was $9 for the carry-out large.  It has gone up a dollar a year, so it is now up to $12 for the same pizza.  But it is still the best deal for pizza around.

But I'm surprised by the pp who said pizza was just as expensive as fast food.  It's cheaper for us.  We just got 2 larges, breadstick bites, a 2 liter, and a salad from Vocellli's last night (it was a meal deal) for $35.  And that fed all 4 of us for dinner last night, plus we had leftovers for lunch today.  So that is our best deal for eating out around here by far.  

To be fair, we have a lot of pizza places around us that would easily be $60 or more for a family of four. The kind of places that make the single sized specialty authentic brick oven type pizzas. We're too cheap to eat at those places though. 

[stemmie]

Mar 16, 2024 12:17:18 GMT -5 felicity said:

Mar 16, 2024 12:10:56 GMT -5 stemmie said:

Fast food has gotten pricey across the board since the pandemic.

DH, DS and I went to 5 Guys a few months ago and the tab was well over $50- for 2 "little" burgers, a hot dog, a shared small fry and 3 drinks. At that price we can go to a local dive bar, have better burgers, 2 beers, table service and ambiance that doesn't feel like a mens room.

We have a large local FB group for food/restaurant discussion, and Five Guys is regularly mocked on there. Their prices are insane.

The son of a friend worked at one when he was in college. The franchise owner used to keep the contents of the tip jar. Turned me off entirely even though I'm sure that's not universally done. 

[icedcoffee]

We can eat the cheapest at McDonald’s. My H can’t eat there so it’s just 3 of us but we almost always do a double burger for me, nuggets for DS2 and hamburger for DS1. We split a large fries and I get a Diet Coke. On the app it ends up being around $8-15 If anyone is hungry after they can have a snack at home.

[jewel]

Another good strategy is to buy discounted gift cards at Costco or Sam’s for places that you plan to go to anyway. Ours sell quite a few for quick serve restaurants, $80 for a $100 gift card.