eating out - as reward?

**perSue** · 05-23-2008, 11:04 AM

ok the "no eating out challenge" got me to thinking.

the reason I can't join that challenge is because at least twice a month we go out to eat... once usually to see family/friends... the other time as a "reward" for someone.

kinda like "wow, you got all A's on your midterm report card!" or "you gotta A on your hardest class midterm!".

does anyone else do this?
should we not do this?
(i'll admit... sometimes it's ME who got that A and I wanna "no cooking night" - and sadly, I dont want mashed potatoes and jello for dinner! LOL)
(note: they dont really "cook" hehehe)

it's not like we go to really expensive restaurants. sometimes it's just a quick trip to a fast food place (cheap!) to sit down (outta the house) and eat.

just thought i'd see if anyone else does an "eat out reward".

**Russ** · 05-23-2008, 11:07 AM

We typically just eat out on special occasions. For example tonight, it's our 17th wedding anniversary.

**Ali Lee** · 05-23-2008, 11:40 AM

We eat out once a week...Friday night. We enjoy it.. we look forward to it. We try to hit a fish fry. About 15$ for the 2 of us with drinking h2o. This is a cut back from eating 2-3 x's a week. If "life" gets worse we will cut back to 0 x's a week. I don't see anything wrong with a "treat" of eating out. Enjoy!

**pkellyc** · 05-23-2008, 12:08 PM

DH and I will soon be empty nesters. We found ourselves eating out more and more and then we found ourselves taking both DD's and their SO's totaling 6 adults. Yikes try paying for that 2 or 3 times a week! Not to mention how unhealthy it is. We have cut back to almost nothing compared to what we were doing. With the cost of living what it is eating out is now back to being a treat rather than the norm for us.
Eating out twice a month is not a lot and there is nothing wrong with it as long as you can afford it.

**Holly** · 05-23-2008, 01:40 PM

We eat out twice a month or I go on a cooking strike.
( plain and simple ). lol

**emily_hope** · 05-23-2008, 02:55 PM

We go out to eat for special occasions and sometimes for 'rewards' and sometimes just because I don't want to cook. The point of the challenge for me is to plan out my meals and be ready for supper each day and not waste my money picking up fast food or going out to a restaurant every other day or so. it helps me save money and it helps us eat healthier foods. Not eating out ever, if it is something you enjoy, would become more of a burden than a little challenge to yourself. I think everyone needs a treat now and then or life would become very mundane and bordom would set in and then you would become a rebel and no telling what might happen LOL. All that being said... if I don't have the money to do it, I don't because I don't want to be in debt by having a few McDonald's french fries or a steak at Outback... KWIM?

**shoiji** · 05-23-2008, 03:04 PM

I rarely go out to eat, or order in. Last week I did stop in a diner I always pass and had breakfast. Breakfast used to be a cheap meal out, but since I have not gone there in years, I was suprised at the cost and the really small coffee cup. Did enjoy it, and may do it again in a couple of months.

If you can afford it once in a while I don't see what the problem is. Personally I have gotten better, take out mostly, where I view going out or ordering in as a treat.