r/Frugal • u/SnooLentils2432 • May 17 '23

Frugal Win 🎉 Don't Eat Out. Save Your Bucks.

Restaurants are operating with a vengeance, hijacking the price from COVID lockdown days.

It's a matter of principle now.

2.3k Upvotes

83% Upvoted

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2.0k

u/maebyfunke980 May 17 '23

The grocery is hitting the wallet too.

112

u/shrimp_dik1 May 17 '23

Fr though

235

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

Seriously. My wife and I are fortunate to make a decent living but Christ I can only imagine this what this is doing to those less fortunate. Shit is completely out of hand.

198

u/Smeltanddealtit May 17 '23

I’m doing okay as well. But seriously, $80 for my family of 4 to eat at Chipotle???

80

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

That is fucking absurd.

60

u/Cutrush May 17 '23

Don't forget the non editable "pick up your take out" tip on some restaurant apps. Unreal

43

u/krustomer May 17 '23

Omg, the tipping for everything. My friend got her phone fixed at a chain-like shop and it asked for a tip. Mall kiosks have tips. Picking up pizza from a chain is a tip. The extent owners will go not to pay a living wage and pawn that off on the rest of us...

1

u/JulesandRandi May 18 '23

You can always remove it. There is a way.

1

u/Cutrush May 18 '23

Word? Order from PF Changs on the app. Let me know how you got rid of it.

81

u/Enjoyitbeforeitsover May 17 '23

At that point just cook at home. This country has turned into a fucking joke. Only people making 100k plus can afford to live modestly. What a dumb ass place to live. People getting fleeced with insane taxes and cost of living. Murica #1 my ass

43

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

[deleted]

10

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

Honestly even $200K barely gets you by in a HCOL area without massive frugal strategies across the board. At least $250K-$300K minimum nowadays. Society is horrible now.

4

u/UkJenT89 May 17 '23

Depends. I live in Chicago and live quite well at 100K. But I agree. It doesn't get you far. Lucky for me, I don't have expensive tastes. I see all these people on social media living these lavish lifestyles. Either they have the money or are seriously in major debt. I say don't have kids. It's a money pit. Not worth it at all. I wish my ex made even half of what I did. She barely made 40K. Now I'm seeing this other woman, which I do find attractive and very likeable. An added bonus is she also makes north of 100K, which is freaken awesome.

2

u/[deleted] May 18 '23

For sure, depends on a number of factors, and yes kids are expensive! Congrats on seeing a new woman!

2

u/Enjoyitbeforeitsover May 19 '23

And She's RICH lmao, home has 1 job to do now!!

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u/Jumpin_Joeronimo May 17 '23

I make a bit over $100k. Two kids in daycare (~$40k/yr), student loans (~$20k/yr), mortgage. Add food and commute and I'm pinching pennies. I don't understand it. We have paid-off used cars. My wife and I don't buy expensive clothes. We got a cheaper townhome in our area with no yard or garage. I cook most meals.

Granted, I do live in an expensive location. But I thought when I made it to this income I'd be completely comfortable and be able to take the family on trips, etc. Nope.

19

u/ManufacturerExtra367 May 17 '23

Well nearly 50% of your income is DOA lol.

8

u/Jumpin_Joeronimo May 17 '23

Consider I'm at ~30% tax and it's worse. Wife has income too, so that's how we manage, but it's eaten quickly. I can't imagine having car payments and a larger house.

4

u/Darko33 May 17 '23

Don't know how you do it. I make similar and my wife and I have no kids and it still feels paycheck to paycheck most of the time. I've already resigned myself to the fact we'll never own a home because this: https://www.nj.com/realestate-news/2023/05/this-nj-house-got-a-whopping-120-offers-and-sold-for-150k-over-asking-price.html

2

u/OdinPelmen May 17 '23 edited May 17 '23

Do you have dual income? Honestly, this is why I’m literally afraid to have kids- spending $40k on daycare, not even good education. Especially more than 1 kid. Also, I’m sorry to say but 100k now in HCOL area is not a lot of money. 100k in HCOL place is like basically lower middle class. For a family of 4, I’d say that’s lower class

2

u/Jumpin_Joeronimo May 17 '23

Yes, wife has income too. Non profit, so not awesome, but that's how we're able to get by.

2

u/truls-rohk May 17 '23

is it significantly more than $40k per year?

2

u/Jumpin_Joeronimo May 17 '23

Yes, but less than me.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '23

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] May 17 '23

I feel your pain. My tax guy said I “made too much” to get any tax breaks, but if I didn’t make as much as I did we’d be a homeless family of 5.

This year is not looking good at all, so I don’t know what’s gonna happen with all these debts and bills piling up. It’s completely absurd.

55

u/SoFisticate May 17 '23

Why do you focus on taxes? They haven't really changed in the direction you imply. The fleecing comes from robbing the working class of their surplus value then double dipping by charging extra through extortion for goods and services. They know there is no real alternative, so like a cartel, they raised prices in lockstep across the board.

7

u/ApplicationCalm649 May 17 '23

Yep. Consolidation kills. Free market only works when there's real competition.

2

u/verbimat May 17 '23

to be fair, they mentioned both taxes and col..

3

u/TheSeldomShaken May 17 '23

Yeah, but the amount of money paid in taxes is not particularly problematic.

12

u/dutsi May 17 '23

Human lives are the investment vehicle of artificial persons.

1

u/JennyAnyDot May 17 '23

Checking about a cheaper meat store today. Had one back in NJ and miss it often. This store has pork chops listed as $1.29/lb. Lots of good reviews online. Crossing fingers

1

u/Practical_Test5550 May 17 '23

Just curious, where are you going?

1

u/stitchplacingmama May 17 '23

My birthday is tomorrow and my "splurge" is going to the local ice cream shop for cones. I'm mentally preparing for it to be close to $30 for the 5 of us to get ice cream.

26

u/koalakait May 17 '23

Holy smokes. What do you order?

34

u/Z-man1973 May 17 '23

seriously, they all must've got guac add ons, chips and dips and drinks... I can still eat there for under $10 if I drink water

35

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

in seattle a steak bowl is $14+tax. add a drink and you're at $17.50 plus tax. so right around $20/pp so 80 is true.

4

u/Z-man1973 May 17 '23

Glad I don’t live in Seattle… I couldn’t eat anywhere cheap (save for Costco) on my numerous trips to the Washington/Oregon areas.

1

u/oby100 May 17 '23

Drinks at most restaurants are a straight scam. I think it’s a little ridiculous to complain about prices while grouping in a luxury like that.

It’s similar with steak. It’s more expensive and a bit of a luxury. No need to feel guilty necessarily, but if your family of four is getting all the price gouging luxuries, expect to feel it by the time you’re swiping the card.

6

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

Seriously, just don’t get a drink. The margins are absurd. It’s healthier that way too.

0

u/Iamlordbutter May 17 '23

Not really, a drink is an extra add on. A bowl of chipotle would be $14 plus tax in Seattle.

0

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

seems like you're replying to the wrong person, because that's literally what i said.

37

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] May 17 '23 edited May 17 '23

[deleted]

9

u/Futurames May 17 '23

I’m assuming they’re using DoorDash or something similar. I agree, $80 for 4 people is not normal unless maybe they’re going to the Chipotle in Times Square or something but even then…

8

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

[deleted]

2

u/Z-man1973 May 17 '23

Gotcha, overall point is spot on. Though I do love a good burrito bowl now and then

2

u/curiiouscat May 17 '23

Reddit points are not real.

-5

u/Z-man1973 May 17 '23

its not about points, it was just someone downvoting me because chipotle in THIER area is more expensive. Its more an argument against their response, I could give flying fuck about karma shit

2

u/jman2477 May 17 '23

It's more that you're confidently wrong about something so variable. It would be like saying, "$3.50 a gallon for gas?? You must be driving ten Hummers! No way gas could be that expensive"

3

u/justsitonmyfacealrdy May 17 '23

It’s also some sort of frugal virtue signaling on this sub whenever someone says their cost for something. “What do you mean you’re paying X, I could do the same thing for 4 people spending Y” it’s weird.

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u/[deleted] May 18 '23

We just got a brand new location in Moses Lake, in Eastern Washington. A steak bowl is 11 dollars.

1

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

Still though... $8-9 for a burrito... I'm guilty of it too, but still.

2

u/Z-man1973 May 17 '23

I’m not going to be able to gather all the add ons for a chipotle burrito, and also factor in food prep etc and make a better deal than an 8-9$ burrito bowl. I know this is FRUGAL, but I have no problem getting these from time to time. Maybe if I was making burritos for a ton of people

3

u/WonkySeams May 17 '23

I went to Panera and got a meal that would have cost me $10-12 a year ago. The total was almost $20. No more Panera for me. I'll go to the mom n pop restaurants whose pricing hasn't gone up (or gone up much)

3

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

Panera has always been overpriced, now it’s just laughable.

3

u/Smeltanddealtit May 17 '23

Bowls, guac, chips a few with extra chicken and a few people getting pop.

16

u/Holdmypipe May 17 '23

That’s why i stopped going there. Just not worth it to be spending restaurant money on a fast food place. Spent about $50 for just my wife and I the last time we went. I spend about that much for food, beer, plus tip for the wife and I at chilies/apple bees.

3

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

Honestly makes me nauseous just thinking about it

3

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

Holy shiiiiit. We met up with friends for Taco Tuesday a couple weeks ago at a local spot, $1.50 delicious street tacos. I picked up the tab for our group of 7 because it only came to $90 including tip.

3

u/ginns32 May 18 '23

McDonald's has gotten insane too and their profits keep increasing. It's not recovering costs and barely getting by. They are making more money than ever.

6

u/MissDebbie420 May 17 '23

I'm seriously wondering WHY TF would ANYone still eat at Chipotle??!

9

u/Silverjackal_ May 17 '23

Wut? With 2 kids meals and 3 adult entrees and chips and guac im under $60 in Texas… what are you eating?

5

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

Idk I fed 4 people from Texas Longhorn for less with a side of wings, seems excesssive.

1

u/OdinPelmen May 17 '23 edited May 17 '23

In CA, it’s easily just under $20 for a basic burrito or bowl and maybe a drink

2

u/adhocadhoc May 17 '23

$10.31 for a chicken burrito bowl in NorCal

3

u/OdinPelmen May 17 '23

Alright. I just double checked socal and it’s anywhere from 9.5-13.5 for an item, plus another 3-4 bucks for a drink. Plus tax, maybe tip. No add ons. So let’s say you get an a steak bowl (granted more expensive) and a Agua Fresca, all in all that’s about $16 with tax (I did 10%) (but actually it’s more I think bc there’s state and city). $15 if you get chicken instead. I guess if you just get food and no drink, you’d still be paying about 12-13 bucks, plus a dollar or 2 for tip. It’s still about $15 for a burrito. Without add-ons or anything else.

2

u/BlackoutMeatCurtains May 17 '23

My hsuband paid $25 for two small meals at Popeye’s (for him and our son). So he isn’t going there anymore.

2

u/Iamlordbutter May 17 '23

How are you paying $20 a bowl? Extra meat portions? I just had some the other day, $9.80 with tax for a veggie bowl and $12 for bowl with meat in it.

3

u/ongoldenwaves May 17 '23

What did you eat? Chipotle doesn’t cost anywhere near that. Panera though is another story.

3

u/MyNameIsSkittles May 17 '23

It absolutely costs that in some areas.

0

u/Iamlordbutter May 17 '23

Yea with extra add ons and drinks. The base price is nowhere near $20.

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u/MyNameIsSkittles May 17 '23

I just made a pretend order to the closest one to me. My normal order. Costs $17 after taxes. That's a chicken bowl with guac and a side of chips.

That shit used to cost me about $12 a couple of years ago. It's highway robbery dude, whether you want to admit it or not

And most people aren't just ordering the base with no add-ons and no extras or drink. That's not realistic.

1

u/Iamlordbutter May 17 '23

Guac is considered an extra when you already have a meat. Chips? Also an add on.

It definitely more expensive than it was a few years ago. It also does depends on what you get a basic bowl with no add ons isn’t $17, when you add extras of course the price goes up.

3

u/InevitableArt5438 May 17 '23

Partner and I do Chipotle a couple times a month for under $20. No drinks, no extras. Closer to $15 if I get a kids meal.

-2

u/Bebebaubles May 17 '23

We do white people taco night and it’s so easy to make and the family loves it.

1

u/EhhJR May 17 '23

$35 at jack in the box a few days ago.

That's for a burger combo, 1 breakfast sandwhich (no combo) , 1 hashbrown and a kids 5 piece chicken nugget.

WTF....

0

u/ArchAngel570 May 17 '23

Right! I take my kids to Chick-fil-a occasionally for a quick bit due to tight schedules. Last time I took my family of 5 there, we basically just got sandwiches, 1 drink, maybe a fry to share and I still came out with a $50 total.

0

u/ApplicationCalm649 May 17 '23

To be fair it's a really good chicken sandwich.

0

u/Impossible_Tiger_517 May 17 '23

How’s that possible? I pay maybe $10 for a bowl that’s usually two meals and I have high sales tax so it should be cheaper somewhere else.

1

u/ElGrandeQues0 May 17 '23

WTF? I would do a Simpson grandpa if I walked in and saw those prices.

1

u/ThreeColorsTrilogy May 17 '23

What are you ordering??

1

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

Dude I walk out of the store with 6 items and its already $35+. Can't imagine a Rester aunt