What do you drink?
Last thing I drink was a Curmudgeon from Founders. A 4-pack is $11. So $25 would average out to 9 beers in a week. Hardly seems outrageous.
Or just not drink and save money.
I have eaten out at many restaurants around US, even though NYC tends to be a bit more expensive, most better than diner’s restaurants cost about the same. The average prices I am seeing is in the teens for appetizers and 20s for main course. Your meal is $40 before tax and tip, which is generally 25-30%. I have rarely seen a glass of wine for less than $10.
Yep, that’s about the prices that I’m seeing, unless you can eat during happy hour. But usually that’s too early for me. I find as I get older, I’m less willing to settle for doing without to save money. Like giving up a nice glass of wine, or even substituting a cheaper beer for it. I could just eat the crummy catering on the flight that would cover breakfast and dinner, and eat a burger with no drink for dinner, for $5, or hope that we have lounge access and eat free appetizers. We do get $40 per day allotment for food, whether we spend it or not, and if eating well is the only decent thing I can look forward to on a trip, I’m going to do it. But maybe just have one glass of wine, because it does run at least $10 per glass.
Is this going to devolve into an “I’m more frugal than thou” thread?
Meals with wine are usually expensive. Glass of wine usually $15-$25 around here, nothing cheap. I only drink water when I’m out. I’m cheap, sorry.
$15-$25 for a glass on wine in the land of great bottles of wine for $11? Crazy.
It’s cheaper to buy the bottle. Restaurant has huge mark up for wine.
I certainly hope the OP’s daughter is not drinking alcohol. Does that sound like a good idea for a young woman who is not mentally all there and who could be vulnerable to men with bad intent?
It’s probably not the best idea for many young women, to drink.
No it’s not a good idea, it’s tangential discussion.
I really hope this thread doesn’t devolve into a “women should be afraid to drink” discussion.
That’s another tangential discussion.
I check the prices on drinks, but eating out without a drink loses the relaxation factor.
I have spent $7 on food so far today.
Romani, is putting me under pressure. 
Noooo dstark! Don’t limit yourself. Indulge, and indulge freely! Food is one of my few indulgences and I’d never begrudge anyone.
I went to a both a fair and a farmer’s market in Detroit this weekend and acquired SO MUCH FOOD… while forgetting that I was going to be home alone for a few days. I think I’ve been sustaining on fruit and salsa because I don’t want them to go bad. Sigh…
Once I start back at school this fall, I am going to keep track of how much I spend on food between restaurants and whatnot. I’m very bad about packing my lunch and I love going out to eat and drink with friends. Maybe I spend more than I realize. (entirely possible) but my results are also skewed because I’m a vegetarian. I do save on grocery stores though since when I’m having busy weeks, I won’t eat anything at home. Mr R knows when I’m going through these periods and won’t bother to buy anything because he’ll just have to throw it out lol.
I do indulge in smoothies. I love overpriced smoothies. I could make them, but I’m lazy.
ETA: I hope it’s not coming off as negative about the eating out thing… that’s not my intention at all! If I was negative about other people eating out, I’d be the biggest hypocrite.
Also, I’d love a personal chef. New life goal: make enough to have a personal chef.
Romani, thanks! I think I am spending at least $25 on food for myself today.
Romani - I like that life goal. I want a personal chef too.
Eating out with friends is one of my indulgences. I have a lot of foodie friends and live in a foodie town so it’s not hard to find an excuse to dine out. And if I’m going to dine, there’s going to be wine ;).
Since we are going off on eating out. I just got an advertisement at one of my favorite seafood restaurants - a buck oyster, with half price champagne, and $30 lobster dinner. It’s too good of a deal to pass up.
Whoa. Where is that? Count me in!! What a deal, oldfort!