How Often Do You Dine Out?

Discussion in Misc & Others started by Denis Hard • Dec 12, 2014.

  1. Denis Hard

    Denis HardWell-Known Member

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    "You have to treat yourself at times," is one excuse people give for not saving money when they can. Do you need to dine out every two days to feel that you are enjoying life to the maximum? An easy way to save money is by dining out less.

    Personally I don't dine out that often. Maybe once in a month [which is good for my wallet].

    What of you guys? How often do you guys dine out?
     
  2. xTinx

    xTinxWell-Known Member

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    Well since I live with my family and I've got friends who often invite me to weeknight or weekend escapades, it's hard to keep track of the number of times I dine out every month. I do know that every weekend after church service, my family and I dine at our favorite fast foods, restaurants or grill houses. During payday, my office mates and I dine out too. Of course, I'm not so silly as to drain my pocket in an instant. I make sure to spare a few dollars for my savings.
     
  3. valiantx

    valiantxActive Member

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    Whenever it's financially reasonable and will not effect my bank account too much. Usually I dine out once every three weeks or so, because I save way more money buying things from the store and cooking it myself - plus this kind of practice enhances my shopping, savings, and cooking skills. If I do dine out, I usually hit the noddle house, sushi restaurant, or the buffet - it all depends on who and how much people I am eating with.
     
  4. Sly14Cat

    Sly14CatActive Member

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    Not all too often. I don't see a reason to go beyond 3 times over the course or two weeks.
     
  5. DancingLady

    DancingLadyActive Member

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    Coffee shops are my only dining out ventures. I do not go to regular restaurants at all. It's just too expensive and more often than not I end up not feeling so well afterwards because the food is so different from what I am used to, usually to fatty and greasy, and that's hard to digest when you aren't used to it. They also use way too much salt, so then I'm annoyed when I end up retaining a bunch of water the next day.

    If I had the money to go to the kind of restaurants that serve actual healthy food, I would go now and then, but I don't have $20 to drop on a meal, ever, that's almost a weeks worth of groceries for me.
     
  6. mariee

    marieeActive Member

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    I don't go to a restaurant often, maybe a few times a year. But I do eat out about once a week. We usually have Subway or food from a local cafeteria. My partner only has 1 day off work and we tend to do a lot of things that day, so instead of going back home just to cook we eat out. We like Subway because they have deals and it's healthier than other fast food.
     
  7. isabbbela

    isabbbelaWell-Known Member

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    I don't dine out that often. As I always have lunch at my work's restaurant, I'll usually have dinner at home. That is unless I'm going out with friends, family, boyfriend or something like that. So I would say I go out to dine out around once a week, maybe twice a week sometimes. But I actually really enjoy having dinner at home, so I don't have a problem with having to eat at home! It saves me money, so that's what matters!
     
  8. Mockingbird

    MockingbirdActive Member

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    I have to admit, I have gotten into a very bad habit when I have to put many hours in work (Like now over the holidays) It is so easy to get into the habit of just getting dinner out. I don't usually eat three meals a day, and I try really hard to pack food for lunch but after a 10 hour day I do not have much energy left to cook. I try to cook over the weekend but that usually will not last more then a few days. Eating out has become expensive, I try very hard to avoid it. Sometimes the food is not that great.
     
    #8Dec 30, 2014
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2014
  9. Lushlala

    LushlalaWell-Known Member

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    In as much as I love eating out, it hits you in the pocket and also expands your waistline. I'd like to be able to eat out a bit more often as it's our main indulgence. However at the moment because money is a bit tight, we only probably go out eating about twice a month. I do prefer to cook freshly made food, which my hubby appreciates. Not that my food's better than restaurant cooked food; just to save money and for a healthier option :)
     
  10. Squigly

    SquiglyActive Member

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    I like to dine out during the weekends and on friday evenings. It's a great way to socialise and destress. I don't see dining out as a necessarily expensive affair, there are plenty of affordable restaurants out there with delicious fare, all you have to do is explore and research.
     
  11. Feneth

    FenethActive Member

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    We typically eat out twice a week, one dinner and one breakfast/brunch or sometimes two lunches. I LIKE the experience of food eating out. It's important to me. I try to pick up discount gift cards when possible but we budget to allow ourselves extra for this. For the most part, meals cooked at home are food to fuel the body. Meals out are entertainment to us and a way to connect.

    I think a budget should take into account what's important to you. We're practically minimalist as far as stuff is concerned. We only have one vehicle with no car payment. I ride my bike anywhere within what I consider a reasonable distance and often take the bus instead of driving.
     
  12. Zyni

    ZyniWell-Known Member

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    Usually, it's fairly rare. Lately, more often, although I wouldn't exactly call it "dining" out. We've had more fast food, and a few diner style meals, in the past month or so than we probably had during the rest of the year. I've been in the city a lot more often during the holidays than I usually am as well for shopping and such, so that's why. It's too easy to grab something. I'm not a big fan of fast food though. I don't like most of it very much, it's not good for you, and it can get expensive. I usually stick to the value menu if I do go. As for actual "dining" out that usually only happens on rare/special occasions.
     
  13. DreekLass

    DreekLassWell-Known Member

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    I don't dine out very often. If I lived in America, I suspect that I would dine out even less, due to the whole tipping thing. But that is not to say that they are not slowly working the tipping thing into the way that things work here in the UK> They have been tagging the tip on the end of bills in certain restaurants, and customers do not even know that they are paying a mandatory tip. They just think that they are paying for what they ordered, which is wrong in my opinion.

    I used to dine out more when I was a child. I miss those days when my mother would pay for everything though lol.
     
  14. LitoLawless

    LitoLawlessActive Member

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    I dine out pretty often, and I'm actually trying to cut back. I think that I spent a lot of money last year because I was too lazy to whip up a simple meal myself. I've started going to the supermarkets and local markets a lot more, and I don't think I'll be dining out too often this year.
     
  15. TPhoenix

    TPhoenixActive Member

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    I dine out once or twice a week at fast food/coffee shops and if were taking about high end diners, I'd say once a month and if not, less than that. I believe I could save back even more money if I were to stop going as often as I do, but you can't cut too much out of your life and render it too cheap or boring. You've just got to enjoy the fruits of your labor sometimes, no matter if it costs you a bit of an opportunity to save back on cash.
     
  16. sidney

    sidneyWell-Known Member

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    When I am saving up for a new gadget, I avoid giving in to my fast food cravings, but I do eat out once in a while when the urge strikes. I tend to resist most of the time now though, since I'm saving up for a couple of things.
     
  17. happyshopper

    happyshopperActive Member

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    I dine out about once a month and it just depends on what is going on at the time. I do need to dine out quite a lot to enjoy life but I also have an enjoyable experience eating at home so I'll take both. There are some moments when I'll order food online and have it delivered to my place from a pizza place.
     
    #17Jan 6, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2015
  18. DrRipley

    DrRipleyExpert

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    I buy takeout regularly because I prefer it to cooking and it's cheap enough that I'm not paying that much more especially considering in get to save myself time and effort as well as having to pay for gas and cleaning dishes. For regular days I just eat where it's cheap though and as far as actually dining out in terms of being a bit more of a special day then I guess I do that about twice a month on average. Sometimes more and sometimes less but that's what is about right for me.
     
  19. isabbbela

    isabbbelaWell-Known Member

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    I dine out with my fiancee pretty much every weekend, usually Saturdays, but sometimes either Friday or Sunday as well. We like going out for Japanese food, steakhouses, Italian, Mexican. I myself like to vary, but my fiancee is a little selective to eat (so annoying), so sometimes we don't go to certain places I would love to dine out at. But for me, we go out quite a lot so I'm not complaining! I love dining out.
     
  20. Krissttina Isobe

    Krissttina IsobeWell-Known Member

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    :oops:Well eating out is something I don't do much to save money. But I must confess that McPic 2 for $2 we treated ourselves and got 4 things and held our breath that our cholesterol won't go too way up!:D But really to save money we very rarely like once in 3 months or once in 6 months to treat ourselves if there's a good deal too for eating out.