Burger King Three Years Later

[JustDave]

It's been a while, but I had an unusual taste for a burger and I decided to see what was happening in my old fast food haunt. I got a Whopper Combo without cheese, that included medium fries, and medium Coke. It was $12.13. The last time I was there, it was $7, and even back then I used to laugh, realizing I could get an actual meal with a salad and trimmings at a restaurant for $3 more. They say inflation is slowing, but I don't see it from my perspective. My grocery bill is still going up each week.

But I will say when I picked up that burger in its paper wrapping, it did indeed feel like a whopper. I don't remember them being so hefty, but for the last few years my home meals have been much smaller. The burger was good and free of the bone chips and gristle now standard in hamburger from the market, and the fries were tasty, but I only ate half of them.

The place was mostly empty, even though it was 5:30 PM, and there were only two other people in the eating area. My table still had food crumbs that had not been wiped away, but I sat there anyway so I could keep my eye on my car and my dog. I left feeling full, didn't even need an evening snack before I went to bed.

 

[MountainRa]

After not eating very often at fast food restaurant chains in the last couple of years, I am astounded at the cost of eating at one now. Due to being out and about to visit my mom in a long term care facility, I’ve had more occasion to eat at fast food places.
I’ve come to resent having to pay such high prices for fast food and have second thoughts at patronizing them just for convenience. If I’m going to pay those kind of prices I want a place I can at least be seated and waited on.

I’ve started doing two things - carrying a snack with me that I can eat to hold me over until I get back home.
If I absolutely have to eat out I choose a locally owned restaurant rather than a fast food chain to give my money to.

 

[MACKTEXAS]

I eat out only on Sundays (lunch) with a group of friends who usually go to fast food places.

I average paying between $12-$14. The lowest price I've paid within the past month is $8.97 for a cheeseburger combo at Braum's, and it was good, except that I usually don't eat red meat, and I paid about the same amount for a 4 piece chicken tender dinner (with 1 vegetable, roll and a drink) at Golden Chick. The most I've paid was around $14 at Schlotzsky's for a turkey sandwich, chips, and a drink.

Now and then, the group goes to a sit down restaurant. This is always time consuming, and orders get mixed up, prices are much higher, have to leave a tip. It turns out costing me $22-$30. Service is poor on Sundays because they're crowded. I went with them a couple of times to places like that and said "no more."

I hate today's prices, and if I was alone, I would never eat out anywhere - but since our group is only eating out 3-4 times a month, I go, not so much for the food as the social contact. When and if it gets to $20 or over for one meal, I will either stop going, or go less often - maybe 1-2 times a month.

 

[Rae]

We go to Burger King sometimes. My husband likes their grilled hamburgers and he can add what he wants on them. It isn't that expensive and I can have a small hamburger add what I want too. It only costs about $4.35 and I can use the crowns collected and get them free. They know me there and are really nice when I pick them up.

 

[Nathan]

It's been a while, but I had an unusual taste for a burger and I decided to see what was happening in my old fast food haunt. I got a Whopper Combo without cheese, that included medium fries, and medium Coke. It was $12.13. The last time I was there, it was $7, and even back then I used to laugh, realizing I could get an actual meal with a salad and trimmings at a restaurant for $3 more. They say inflation is slowing, but I don't see it from my perspective. My grocery bill is still going up each week.

But I will say when I picked up that burger in its paper wrapping, it did indeed feel like a whopper. I don't remember them being so hefty, but for the last few years my home meals have been much smaller. The burger was good and free of the bone chips and gristle now standard in hamburger from the market, and the fries were tasty, but I only ate half of them.

The place was mostly empty, even though it was 5:30 PM, and there were only two other people in the eating area. My table still had food crumbs that had not been wiped away, but I sat there anyway so I could keep my eye on my car and my dog. I left feeling full, didn't even need an evening snack before I went to bed.

This sounds like me, hadn't been to a burger place in years, but not long ago I swung by BK because their broiled burgers are good. I just got 2 Whoppers no cheese, ala carte....$22., one for me, one for DW. $22, I didn't leave a tip.
Unless sometime in the future I'm traveling and need a meal, I won't be going to a fast food place again.

 

[Fritz]

The sticker shock anywhere is getting bad. It costs me $50 easily for 5 or 6 items at Walmart now. I shop smaller each week as opposed to shopping for 2 wks at a time. I basically quit eating out except for maybe once or twice a month.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I get sticker shock when I go to fast food restaurants and many other places these days.

In my case I’ve been out of the day to day work force for twenty years and have not adjusted to all of the small price increases, and wage increases, that have accumulated over time.

I try to think in terms of how much my meal costs compared to the local minimum wage.

In this area the minimum, entry level, wage seems to be $15.00-$20.00.

When I think in those terms the prices seem more reasonable.

I have to admit that the prices in a real fancy table cloth restaurant send me running for the exits unless I’m buying for the people that I care about.

 

[David777]

Why this frugal senior rarely eats at even fast food restaurants any more. There are 3 within a short walking distance of my residence. Just the thought of smelling a hot steaming burger does make me hungry. But have self control.

 

[Disgustedman]

That's why I always pay attention to advertising when it's various fast food joints. One in particular happens to be Little Caesar, they recently had a two topping crazy crust for $6.99. It comes out to $7.31 with tax.

Or sometimes I will hit a Taco Bell and get two to three chicken enchiladas for $2.49 each. I could throw on a soda for an extra $2.99.

Recently I saw a advertisement for Domino's, and you could get two pizzas or more for $6.99 for two topping. Just for the heck of it I put in a order for a 10 inch small pizza extravaganza. This is a pizza with like five toppings.

I could have bought three Domino's special for the same price as that small Extravaganza Pizza. I would have gone with Domino's except I didn't want to spend $12+

Of course that's the real problem for some people, is that as retired, we can't work more or retire more and get more money. We have to make do with what we get.

 

[Oldeagle66]

I haven't been in Burger King in over ten years and don't know the prices, but I picked up some fast food trash outside and noticed the size of the 'Whopper' box. It sure didn't look as big as they used to be. If that's over $3 people are getting ripped off.