<p>When I was a kid, my family would only go out to eat once a month at most, unless we were going on vacation and couldn’t cook our meals (though we would often bring food made at home with us, or stay in hotels with kitchens). This includes going to places like Subway or Chipotle, so not just sit down restaurants. This obviously isn’t normal, but when I started college I was pretty surprised to see people eat out as often as they do. Though this is hard to judge because people are on meal plans and don’t have kitchens in their dorm room, so eating out is more necessary.</p>
<p>Now I’m in grad school, and it still seems like people eat out all the time. Except now we all live in apartments with kitchens, aren’t on meal plans, and are not paid that much. I don’t poll my friends about how often they eat out, but if I had to guess they do so more often than not. At the very least, I’m the only person I’ve seen in my department actually bring in a lunch. On the other hand, I’ve only eaten out twice in the past week. Sometimes I’ll have frozen meals, but they usually end up being cheaper and healthier than anything I would buy from a restaurant. Is this normal, or am I weird for making most of my meals?</p>
<p>Obviously it depends, more often on vacation even if we are some place we can cook (which we usually are), more often in months with birthdays and anniversaries. But rarely more than once a week, and rarely less often than once a month. Restaurants are about the only thing keeping our downtown alive, so I do try to eat at least once a month in one of them.</p>
<p>My older daughter eats out for every meal - breakfast, lunch and dinner. We are not happy about it because we don’t think it is healthy, but she really doesn’t have time to cook. Lucky for her that her firm pays for her dinners. We eat out 2-3 times a week, sometimes it’ll be brunch or a quick bite at a local restaurant, and sometimes we’ll splurge at a trendy restaurant.</p>
<p>I’d say we “eat out” - often meaning taking something prepared home to eat - on an average of once a week, sometimes twice. Actually eat in a restaurant - maybe twice a month - and even then, usually something simple and relatively not expensive - like a pub or local casual place. I take breakfast and lunch with me daily to work. </p>
<p>I have an office mate, who if I added up just what they spent on eating out in a week is likely $200 a week - they are a very middle class family. Today this same co-worker was aghast when her husband called to tell her that her car that she rarely maintains, is going to have a $400 repair bill. All I could think was, just cook at home for a couple of weeks and you’ll have your car bill paid AND probably be eating healthier!!! (same co-worker has been put on notice by her doc that she needs to do something about her weight/triglycerides etc.)</p>
<p>I like to cook but with busy schedules we do eat out more than I prefer. We probably average twice a week. I try to be organized and put things in the crockpot for busy nights but often I find I haven’t planned ahead. With practices and other activities in the evening and I am the one doing all the chauffering we will grab take-out or last night we actually ate in a restaurant, sat and relaxed a bit for heading off to the next activity. My husband does not cook at all so all the grocery shopping, preparation, clean-up is all on me. It gets hard to manage every single night.</p>
<p>We eat out 2-3 times per month but our kids in their 20’s eat out more because they can’t/won’t organise themselves to plan ahead or shop according to a menu…so its easier to buy lunch/dinner than think about it. Not healthy and not cost effective but I guess it will take them a few more years before it sinks in.</p>
<p>We eat out once a week. We used to eat out more frequently (2-3times/week), but quit doing that for health reasons. I prefer eating at home where I know how much fat and sodium I’m consuming.</p>
<p>We usually eat out twice on weekends…not expensive meals…usually about $15 for the two of us. </p>
<p>Our twenty-three year old son eats at least one meal every day (lunch w/ co-workers) and sometimes two. He is moving to a new house this week where he’ll have a grill. He loves to grill so hope he will cut down on the take out food.</p>
<p>We eat out whenever its more convenient than cooking at home, especially if we’re out running errands and it overlaps with a mealtime, as it does several times a week. H is also eating out for breakfast several times a week. When we do eat out, it’s often a casual neighborhood place and we end up with leftovers that we have another another meal or two. </p>
<p>When we were paying college tuitions and money was tighter, we dined out and purchased less. When we travel, we dine out for most meals.</p>
<p>My h eats at the cafeteria once or twice a week.
We average going out once a week together & I will go have coffee or a drink about once a month with friends.
I try not to go to chains, or if I do, try to go local.
Its hard when others are happy with Starbucks though.( does that count as local?)
;)</p>
<p>When we travel we often get hotels with kitchens &/or breakfast buffets, as I don’t like to have to order out all meals. Even when we stay in high end hotels without a fridge or microwave, I like to bring a softsided cooler so I can have fruit & snacks in the room.</p>
<p>My youngest in college who lives off campus probably eats out once a week.</p>
<p>Very rarely. And I taught my kids to do the math concerning the cost of eating out so they also decided to pack a lunch to bring to work. </p>
<p>If you need quick to prepare meal ideas, the internet is your friend. Be money smart and learn how to prepare healthy meals. It is a skill that will serve you well in life.
No one regrets having money saved for a rainy day.</p>
<p>It tends to vary according to my schedule. Last two weeks have been my corporate fiscal year end…so everyday and every night. Now that things are back to normal, maybe one time a week. With leftovers for lunch. We are spending a lot of money on something else besides restaurants and we also want to keep our health in check before the holiday food chaos.</p>
<p>Suspect S eats out often, as he travels about 3/4ths of the time. Niece said his fridge was full of yummy things he had cooked, so he is a good cook. Don’t know how much (or little) D dines out vs cooks, but think she often eats at or near campus when she does eat out.</p>
<p>DH and I eat out 2-3 times per week, including 1 or 2 takeout lunches while driving home from playing bridge or other activities. We travel for bridge every couple of months, and eat every meal out when we’re away. He became vegetarian a few years ago, and has limited tastes, so we’re better off eating at home…so much cheaper than ordering penne and marinara sauce for $11.00!</p>
<p>Rarely. The only times I’ve ever had to get up in the middle of the night to throw up have been after restaurant meals. (Some at very nice restaurants too!). I just don’t think they are as hygenic as meals I prepare myself.</p>
<p>It varies based upon my schedule–when my BF is away on travel, I tend to eat dinner out 1 day a week and eat lunch from a food truck at work 1 day a week, the others I carry lunch/cook dinner. When he’s home, I tend to purchase lunch 2 days a week and we eat out 3ish days a week.</p>
<p>I find I also tend to eat out more in the summer, as I’m more inclined to want a light dinner with a glass of wine or a cocktail/beer on a patio or rooftop than I am to cook</p>
<p>warbrain,
I am much older than you are :), but when I was growing up I distinctly remember that we ate out once a month, not more than that. Chinese food, or what passed for it many decades ago. Now we eat out once a week, generally Saturday night. When we go on our annual vacation, we eat out every night. That’s my part of the vacation. ;)</p>
<p>I’m currently on a diet and forcing myself to eat at home more. However, we eat Sat morning breakfast & dinner out weekly. I eat most lunches at Subway (buy a footlong and eat half/save half til the next day). Yes, it would be cheaper to pack a lunch, but after the years of packing school lunches…I just don’t want to :-).</p>