Are you a miser when buying your lunch on a day out?

Yep !!...if I'm on my own.. I;m a cheapskate... I'll got to the cheapest pub and have the small version fo whatever lunch I want etc...

My X used to call me.. all sorts of derogatory Scottish names because we as a nation are supposed to be mean with money.... we're not... but it just makes sense to me...
 
I am but I feel that it has more to do with me being out of touch than it has to do with inflated or unfair prices.

I try to stop and look at things in terms of the beginning wage per hour. In this area that is currently $15.50/hour.

I agree that it is often a better value to stop at a supermarket than a fast food restaurant.

Much of our discretionary spending is a habit. I know several people that routinely spend $50.00/day or more on things like a diner breakfast, drive through coffee, lottery tickets, fast food lunch, etc… and others like me who rarely buy anything and wait until I get home.

There is nothing wrong with it as long as our spending is consistent with our values and priorities.

We all need to know where our money comes from and where it goes.
 

Are you a miser when buying your lunch on a day out?​


No. But then again I rarely eat out. So when I do I buy what I like within reason.
I usually end up eating at home because theres not much out there that interests me.

I do agree that its a better value to shop at a supermarket. You can overspend and still come out ahead of eating out.
Sometimes you just want somebody else to cook though.
 
The amusing thing is, I don't scrimp on the food I buy to eat at home... I like to buy the best I can afford.. but eating out alone at lunchtime in the pub..I'm all for getting it cheap... equally if I buy say a sandwich to take -away..I'l get the egg& cress for example ..rather than the chicken and added topping which cost 3 times as much...
 
hollydolly said:
Yep !!...if I'm on my own.. I;m a cheapskate... I'll got to the cheapest pub and have the small version fo whatever lunch I want etc...

My X used to call me.. all sorts of derogatory Scottish names because we as a nation are supposed to be mean with money.... we're not... but it just makes sense to me...
Click to expand...
I do not see any sense paying full inflated prices for meals.
I understand that the cost of a meal has an incredible amount of input. Wages, food, rent, power etc.
But I say there are enough people paying full price to keep the business viable.
Not having my meagre amount will not see the business close.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I am but I feel that it has more to do with me being out of touch than it has to do with inflated or unfair prices.

I try to stop and look at things in terms of the beginning wage per hour. In this area that is currently $15.50/hour.

I agree that it is often a better value to stop at a supermarket than a fast food restaurant.

Much of our discretionary spending is a habit. I know several people that routinely spend $50.00/day or more on things like a diner breakfast, drive through coffee, lottery tickets, fast food lunch, etc… and others like me who rarely buy anything and wait until I get home.

There is nothing wrong with it as long as our spending is consistent with our values and priorities.

We all need to know where our money comes from and where it goes.
Click to expand...
I know I am shocked when I see the prices of meals. Plus all the extras, drinks etc.
A sit-down meal, Starter, mains, dessert, drinks can easily amount to over $60 and above.
 
Veronica said:

Are you a miser when buying your lunch on a day out?​


No. But then again I rarely eat out. So when I do I buy what I like within reason.
I usually end up eating at home because theres not much out there that interests me.

I do agree that its a better value to shop at a supermarket. You can overspend and still come out ahead of eating out.
Sometimes you just want somebody else to cook though.
Click to expand...
I do not remember the last time I had a sit-down restaurant meal with friends.
Has to be at least twenty years ago. I paid for three of us and it was more than $140.
 
Miser? That's a bit harsh, but I understand what you mean. I don't consider myself cheap. I think more in terms of, "Is it worth it?" Now there's a lot of wiggle room in that for everyone, but 90 percent of my monthly expenditures are on what I need, not on what I want. But I don't place a high priority on what I want. It's not that important.
 
Bretrick said:
Me too. I really baulk at paying overinflated prices.
$14.50 for a small Fried Rice? Not me.
Supermarket has 6 Pumpkin Scones for $5 and 600ml Black Label Orange Juice for $2.75.
Pumpkin Scones are the best. Inexpensive, delicious and filling. 😋
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I'm not a miser but I seldom buy lunch out. Not because of the cost, but due to the lack of healthy food options.

I realize that $14.50 AUD is only $9.35 USD, but that does strike me as extremely high for a small fried rice. :unsure: At our (very nice) local Chinese restaurant small luncheon pork fried rice is $3.65 and a large is $6.65. For $9.15 USD you can get a dinner combo of General Tao's chicken, beef teriyaki (2x), AND pork fried rice.

On the other hand $5.00 AUD ($3.23 USD) for six scones at the grocery store's bakery aisle sounds very low. We'd have to pay at least twice that here.
 
Bretrick said:
I know I am shocked when I see the prices of meals. Plus all the extras, drinks etc.
A sit-down meal, Starter, mains, dessert, drinks can easily amount to over $60 and above.
Click to expand...
absolutely and very often much more, especially here in the London region of the UK

I know Christmas is a special time.. but how does a pub... not even a top class restaurant, justify...£100 a head and more for some turkey, or beef, potatoes and veg.... with a dessert...?... and that's only the days leading up to Christmas not Christmas day..so we're not talking about paying higher wages for the chef and servers working on Christmas day itself , but rather the days leading up to it... when the same or very similar lunch for example in November at the same pub costs just £25...per head , all a rip off..!!
 
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My choice would also depend on how often I eat out. If its once in a blue moon then willingness goes up.
If its three times a week then I would naturally be more frugal.

Also Im willing to spend more if the food is good. Im not willing to spend top dollar for mediocre food.
This especially applies to those "Holiday Feasts" theyre pushing on us now.

A lot of restaurants buy their food at Costco and GFS and doctor it up. Home baked does not mean homemade.
It just means they bought something and baked it in their oven. :D
 
I just go ocassionally with other people for the socialization. It's starting to look like I may be going to Cracker Barrel with some people this Thanksgiving (not sure yet). Someone told me they thought the traditional Thanksgiving dinner for one is $15.99 at most locations this year. That's very reasonable, if true.
 
My hubby and I have cut down the portions we eat on a daily basis for health and weight
reasons over the years so we order one dish with sides we each prefer and split the meal.
It is more cost effective yes, but we are full and don't feel like we wasted half a plate full of
food each when we both can't eat it all.
Some meals are just not good reheated later. This way works great for us and we do it this
way even if someone else is treating us.
 
hollydolly said:
Yep !!...if I'm on my own.. I;m a cheapskate... I'll got to the cheapest pub and have the small version fo whatever lunch I want etc...

My X used to call me.. all sorts of derogatory Scottish names because we as a nation are supposed to be mean with money.... we're not... but it just makes sense to me...
Click to expand...
Ah yes, but because you tell non-Scots that you're mean with money, they won't ask to borrow any from you. So a win win situation for you. :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:
 

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