eating out vs. groceries, and knowing your budget

[Guest]

Eating out does take a big chunk of our paycheck. However, we never

eat at fast food places. I figure what some people spend at Burger

King and the like monthly equals what we spend on one Saturday night

at a nice place. Usually it’s DH and me going out without the kids so

I don’t feel so bad spending a hundred or two on dinner for us. If we

brought the kids it would be unreasonable. If we do take the kids

then we choose a middle of the road place such as Bone Fish Grill or

Maggiano’s Italian, etc.

— In Budget101_@yahoogroups.com, “Marie” wrote:

>

> I came in this morning hoping to sit down and post about something

> that I discovered in my budget. I spend several hours per week with

> my budget…as a rule. I know it intimately. I have one page in a

> huge notebook for each month…and when I sit down to work on it, i

> also review the months to come…for example, I know in october, I

> will have a 3rd paycheck….and I have not yet developed a list of

> things to cover with that check…but I’m sure I will..that check

> also does not have medical insurance taken out of it. I am usually

> very careful about what I spend, knowing how little I have to go from

> end to end. (I usually say, my ends meet, they just don’t spend much

> time together)

>

> I was really surprised to see that I’d spent $100.00 in July for

> lunches out, iced coffees on a saturday, and one weeknight pizza.

> ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could have

> sent that extra $100.00 to a credit card…or stocked up on

> groceries. *shaking my head*

>

> Then I was reading a few digest posts from over the weekend, and saw

> one person budget $35-$100 a week for eating out (or was it a

> month?) My question is, why eat out at all? And I’m asking myself

> this also.

> You can buy a greater quantity of food, prepare it how you want,

> etc,., for a smaller amount than eating out….just consider the

> tip!!!!! If I take my 2 children to friendly’s for dinner (We have

> not done this in A G E S) It will cost between $30 and $35.00. The

> tip for that amount is between $5 and $7.00 Imagine how much food

> you could buy at the grocery store for $40-$42.00 !!!!!!

>

> A year ago, I discovered i was spending $200.00 a month on eating

> out….on average. Looking back at old spending lists…I have not

> spent more than $40.00 on “eating out/iced coffee/coffee etc” in

> several months. This month was higher, though I’m unsure why.

>

> Anyway….Happy Monday everyone.

> Marie in Vermont

>

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