eating out in America - a couple of questions!!

**dancemommy** · 02-22-2011, 11:22 AM

There definitely are deals to be had when eating out if you look for them. In general, cheaper to eat at home. But if you can get 99 cent kids meals I'd say that'd be worth it for a treat once in a while- if you get a cheeseburger, apples, and milk not such a bad meal...

**CrazyHomemaker** · 02-24-2011, 12:29 PM

I feel for all of you. I can totally relate! I'd rather eat at home, anyways.

I don't eat out much here in South Carolina because of all of the food additives and MSG in the food. Places advertise 'No MSG' but they don't know the other names for it. Also, the people fixing the food are not usually the cleanest looking people in the world. I've also seen people of all ages scratching their head and wiping their nose while serving food at well know fast food chains. YUK!!! Even a good restaurant has bad kitchen hygiene here...I peeked at one. This is enough to keep me out of the restaurants.

Most of the year...this is no joke...
Chicken breasts = $4.99+/lb
Chicken drums/wings = $1.69 to $1.99/lb
Ground chuck = $3.49 to $3.99/lb
Apples = $1.49 to $1.69/lb
Bananas = 59 to 69 cents/lb unless you get the bag of 'rejects' for $1.49 for about 3 lbs
Strawberries = $2.99 to $5.99/lb
Grapes = $2.99 to $3.99/lb

In season or on sale (which isn't too often)...
Chicken breasts = $1.99/lb
Chicken drums/wings = $0.99 to $1.49/lb
Ground chuck = $2.39 to $2.99/lb
Apples = $1.29/lb
Bananas = 49 cents/lb
Strawberries = $1.50 to $2.88/lb
Grapes = $1.49/lb

Take care and happy food hunting!
If it wasn't for our FV frugal ways and FV frugal recipes, we wouldn't eat much, would we?

**kathleen.powell57** · 02-27-2011, 11:07 PM

Lol…if you pay attention to where there are maximum savings to be made, eating out does come out cheaper so many times, but isn’t as healthy as home-cooked so we try to balance the two. However I do admit, with both of us working, there are times, it’s the most convenient option at the end of a long hard day

**Ali Lee** · 02-28-2011, 12:47 PM

Hubby & I most generally eat out every Friday night. We usually go where we can have their all you can eat fish special. We drink h2o & the bill comes to about 20$ and that includes 20% tip. But to me, it's more than eating. We clean up, smell good, I wear all my makeup, jewelry, & sometimes we will invite another couple to go with us. So, it's about the experience, too. Seems like we talk & laugh more when we're out. I'm OUT of the house & all day Friday I LOOK forward to not cooking & cleaning up afterwards. Many times I will fix a nice dessert to eat Friday night, while watching a movie together-BAM!/date night!!

So-the 20$ is well spent............