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Dining out... How much do you spend???

I

IamDavid

Diamond Member
So we're going through or monthly budget and it looks like we spent $612 last month dining out.. I know we go out more than the average joe but wft! That was my rent less than 6 years ago. Looking back I think it's about an average month for us.

This normal for anyone else? I hope not. This has got to end. And beleive it or not my entire family is very healthy and perfectly fit.
 
How many people is that? We're currently renovating our kitchen (therefore no cooking), and we don't even spend that much on dining out (really takeout mostly). But it's just two of us.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
How many people is that? We're currently renovating our kitchen (therefore no cooking), and we don't even spend that much on dining out (really takeout mostly). But it's just two of us.
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6 total. 3 adults and 3 children.
 
$612 for 6 people isn't too bad, but if you're trying so save money it's obviously an easy thing to cut.
 
Having a good cook in the family is a blessing in so many ways. We go out a handful a year at most, for birthday. Most of our food budget is spent at Costco buying bulk items.
 
Wow, that is a lot. If you are going to a cheapish resteraunt, then it should be <$10 per person per meal. A middle of the road should be less than $20 per person per meal. So, either you guys eat out a lot or are going to some rather expensive places. Hell, that is more than many pay in rent per month...
 
Your post prompted my interest, so I took a look at my last month's credit card statement.

Here is my breakdown for March 2009:

$54.46 - Dry Cleaning
$151.56 - Standard Monthly Expenses (Internet, T-Mobile, etc.)
$281.00 - Random "Fun" Expenses (Anything I buy for myself.)
$175.82 - Groceries
$58.83 - Liquor
$102.35 - Lunch during the work week (alone)
$52.00 - Metro Expenses
$383.16 - Restaurant Expenses (Dining out alone and/or with GF)

So, I guess if we add all food-related expenses (bold above), I spend $720.16/month.

If you just include lunch during the work week and restaurants (underlined above), I spend $485.51/month.

This is in Washington, DC.
 
~$270/month for dining out for two people. I travel a lot with my job and get reimbursed for an average of ~$80/month of that so it works out to ~$190/month for two people.
 
For 6 people? That doesn't sound like a lot. Hopefully you're eating at decent places at least.

In truth, the wife and I spend a good bit more than that, but food plays a big role in our lifestyle. We're active in the local "foodie" scene and like to try new places, from things like Somali food to the better Italian places.

So, it depends. I think there's a good balance to achieve and it depends on the lifestyle of your family. Eating out at places like Olive Garden, etc. on a regular basis would be extreme.
 
My gf and I spend that much in a year. Even if you figure in the kids, you're still spending four times the amount per person as we do.

I can't imagine flushing money down the toilet at that rate for something as simple as food. That's like your entire monthly Roth IRA contribution plus the payment on a new Honda Fit.

Even if I was rich, I just don't think I'd want to spend that much time in public!
 
Originally posted by: Descartes
For 6 people? That doesn't sound like a lot. Hopefully you're eating at decent places at least.

In truth, the wife and I spend a good bit more than that, but food plays a big role in our lifestyle. We're active in the local "foodie" scene and like to try new places, from things like Somali food to the better Italian places.

So, it depends. I think there's a good balance to achieve and it depends on the lifestyle of your family. Eating out at places like Olive Garden, etc. on a regular basis would be extreme.
Click to expand...

Yup, same here. I'm Italian, food's always been a big part of my life. Naturally, I find myself marrying someone who thinks the same. So we eat out a lot, a good mix of the old standby type places where we're more or less regulars, and always trying the new places. DC is an awesome food city, and my wallet hates that.

Food is definitely my biggest discretionary expense. Of course, its my main interest, so if you look at it like that, I probably don't spend that much more than others do on their hobbies.

I try to avoid casual dining chains, mostly because I don't feel they're a good value. There's local food at the same price around here. There are some exceptions, though -- I love a burger from Ted's Montana Grill, Popeye's Fried Chicken, and a few others.

Then again, I love cheap eats as much as I love anything else. A $600 dinner at Citronelle is fun every couple of years, but finding a new spot for Pho is more fun to me. If only I could find an Indian restaurant that I love. There are a few that I like, but nothing spectacular. That's the current mission 🙂
 
That's cheap for 6 people...even if 3 are kids. (you don't say how old the kids are)

My wife & I spend $35-40 when we go for Chinese, $50 or more for a "decent" restaurant (American food) and at least $100 when we go to a restaurant in Maui. (Mama's usually runs us $200+...but that includes a couple of drinks)

When we go for Mexican with our daughter and her 3 kids, (5-9) we spend an easy $60-75.
 
Originally posted by: IamDavid
So we're going through or monthly budget and it looks like we spent $612 last month dining out.. I know we go out more than the average joe but wft! That was my rent less than 6 years ago. Looking back I think it's about an average month for us.

This normal for anyone else? I hope not. This has got to end. And beleive it or not my entire family is very healthy and perfectly fit.
Click to expand...

applebee's appetizer + 2 entrees for $20 total FTW!

any better restaurant deal than that?
 
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Your post prompted my interest, so I took a look at my last month's credit card statement.

Here is my breakdown for March 2009:

$54.46 - Dry Cleaning
$151.56 - Standard Monthly Expenses (Internet, T-Mobile, etc.)
$281.00 - Random "Fun" Expenses (Anything I buy for myself.)
$175.82 - Groceries
$58.83 - Liquor
$102.35 - Lunch during the work week (alone)
$52.00 - Metro Expenses
$383.16 - Restaurant Expenses (Dining out alone and/or with GF)

So, I guess if we add all food-related expenses (bold above), I spend $720.16/month.

If you just include lunch during the work week and restaurants (underlined above), I spend $485.51/month.

This is in Washington, DC.
Click to expand...

Geez man, is that weekly lunch just for you or both of you? Why are ya spending $20 per meal for lunch?
 
Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Your post prompted my interest, so I took a look at my last month's credit card statement.

Here is my breakdown for March 2009:

$54.46 - Dry Cleaning
$151.56 - Standard Monthly Expenses (Internet, T-Mobile, etc.)
$281.00 - Random "Fun" Expenses (Anything I buy for myself.)
$175.82 - Groceries
$58.83 - Liquor
$102.35 - Lunch during the work week (alone)
$52.00 - Metro Expenses
$383.16 - Restaurant Expenses (Dining out alone and/or with GF)

So, I guess if we add all food-related expenses (bold above), I spend $720.16/month.

If you just include lunch during the work week and restaurants (underlined above), I spend $485.51/month.

This is in Washington, DC.
Click to expand...

Geez man, is that weekly lunch just for you or both of you? Why are ya spending $20 per meal for lunch?
Click to expand...

..because he can? I average about 20-30/day on food but I am picky about my meals and only eat healthy.
 
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