Is it cheaper to eat out?

Question

I always spend a ton at the grocery store and than have nothing to eat in like a day, is is cheaper to eat out?

I can't seem to get out to the grocery store without spending at least 20$ (healthy stuff lettuce, pasta, cheese water etc.) Does this happen to you? I use to never get groceries just og to baha fresh or buy a salad on the go.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

Sometimes------it depends if you keep your kitchen well stocked. My roomate and I were just talking about this...the other day we both wanted hot dogs---well that means we need hot dogs, then chili, then buns, and french fries, then he wanted ice cream and we need bread and milk blah blah blahm you get the picture---we went to sonic and spent 10. instead of the grocery

Answer 2

Actually in the long run it is cheaper to buy you groceries at the store then to go out and buy what you need just then. Just think about it, if you go to McDonalds or Wendy's and buy a salad your likely to spend a good $5. A head of lettuce at the grocery store is only a few buck and you get several salads out of it. It's the same think with just about anything. I used to go out to eat all the time and now I go to the grocery store about once every week to two week and spend about $80 dollars and i can still have things left over to eat even though i go back to the store and buy more things. I have more money to spend on other things too. The trick is to plan like a week or so worth or meals and then shop for just those things. When you go in with a list a stick to it you are less likely to buy things that are not on that list. It also helps to get things that will keep for a while and that you don't "have to be in the mood to eat them."

Answer 3

If you're a cook -- that is, you know how to make healthy and nutritious meals using individual staples -- then eating in is always going to be cheaper (unless you always go for the fanciest of ingredients -- and even then, when you eat out you probably go for the finest restaurants, so it's likely still cheaper to prepare at home.)

If you're not a cook, however, you're buying pre-made (heat and serve) type foods at the grocery store, and you're likely also buying yout produce that way (bags of lettuce, pre-cut mango, stuff like that.) So you're saving money on the waitstaff or delivery from a restaurant, but you're still paying for most of the prep, so the price difference will be less significant -- but still cheaper than eating out.

Here's an important note, however: when you get food out, you have *no idea* what's in the food. Presumably, you get food at the grocery store, and you have standards -- you only buy things that you consider healthy. When you eat out, you're eating whatever they prepared, and it may be really awful, low-grade stuff. Just about anything edible can be made delicious, even if it's lousy for you. Think twinkies and pop tarts.

So if you're a cook, and you are comparing healthy, high-quality foods prepared from staples against healthy, high-quality food from reputable restaurants, you'll always be better off (financially) eating in.

However, if you're not a cook, and/or you are comparing the cheapest possible food at home to the cheapest possible food out -- oh, wait, even then you come out cheaper at home, because you can always buy instant rice and sugar and eat that (it's a dutch thing, I did it often back in the day when I was poor.)

Eating out is cheaper only when you (a) are comparing healthy, pre-made foods at home against cheap take-out, and (b) you tend to buy expensive foods to eat in, but cheap foods when out. In other words, it's your habits and culinary tastes/skills that will dictate the answer to this question.

Oh, and $20 at the grocery store? That could feed you for a week, three meals (rice, potatos, mac and cheese, and a few leafy greens) or a day (prepared food from the deli, and a bottle of wine.) It's really up to you.

Answer 4

No, it's not cheaper to eat out.
By purchasing fast-foods, you're paying for the product AND part of the wages that go into making that product, whether it's a prepared salad or a hamburger.

You need to spend more than $20 on groceries. Loosen your wallet and stock up while shopping for food!

Answer 5

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Answer 6

It is cheaper to eat out only if you have no organization or cooking skills.

Home cooking is like a train. It takes a lot of effort to get started, but once you're moving it doesn't take much effort. But if you constantly stop and then try to constantly restart you're going to waste time and effort.

In order to make home cooking economical you need to plan. It costs a lot to set up a kitchen for the first few meals. For example if you're making a cake for the first time and you have to buy every ingredient, it'll cost about $15.00. That's crazy. But the next time once you have your basic ingredients together, it may not cost more than 75 cents per cake.

Answer 7

It is not cheaper. Unfortunately it is not cheap to eat and even less cheap to eat well. Use coupons. Got a freezer? I survived for a couple of years on frozen tv dinners. The Hungry Man type have enough calories and you CAN'T get a dinner for less than 3 bucks. It's what you are choosing to buy at the store that causes the problems....

Answer 8

It might be healthier to get and make your meals from the grocery store but being single, the time and cost of shopping, buying, bringing home, preparing, etc... it's cheaper to eat out.

Answer 9

It's cheaper to buy groceries, just make sure that you buy stuff that you like so that you will eat it. If you won't eat it, then you'll spend double money by going out everyday. Also, make sure it's easy to make so that you will want to make it.

Answer 10

Try to get off brand food at the grocery store(most of the time they are all about the same.) Most of the time it is more eating out + more fattning.

or eat off the $ menu