So when do people stop going out to eat?

[fan4ever]

I have a customer who owns 5 Mexican Food Cafes here in the Phoenix area. The past few years we've reprinted their menus 6 times...always to accommodate higher prices. Their typical cost now is about $18.00 per entree...Mexican food.

On a personal note I stopped by a McDonald's today and paid $4.96 for a large order of fries. There's got to be a breaking point for most folks.

[Eleazar]

Weird nexus with this thread - if you want to see some lol-inducing shrinkflation, go to DD and see what they're calling a long john these days.

I saw an item on another site last year about them supposedly raising the bottom in their coffee cups to shrinkflate them too. Can't vouch for it, but fiendishly clever if true.

[HemiEd]

For the past few years, we have cut our eating out to around once a month when going to town, if we even do that. Sometimes I will take a healthy sandwich with me to avoid a 1000 to 1500 calorie overpriced offerings available.

The proliferation of fast food has long been something I have noticed adjacent to the increased belt lines of the American people for many years. What used to be an occasional treat is now the norm for many.

The prices vs. value is absurd. $40 for a sit down lunch!?

The 15% vet discount at Freddie's and their excellent service/quality is always tempting when going to Branson though. The California burger is a pretty good knock off of In-n-out.

Originally Posted by MarkDavis'Haircut

$5 is a high tip for a haircut.

That is what I have been giving them for years. Usually $15 for a senior haircut, give them a $20 and we are both happy.

[AdolfOliverBush]

In the last couple of weeks, I've noticed many of the prices at the grocery store starting to trend down. Eggs, for example, are plentiful and down to $3.19 a dozen. Still high, but nearly half of what they were a month ago.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I used to spend about $1100 a month on food. Now I spend like $1300. It isn't 3x or 4x more like people are saying, but it's noticeable.

JFC that is insane.

The average US family spends about $438 per month on food. Not individual, family...

[KurtCobain]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Grocery store prices are up to, we're all just gonna starve.

There were a couple of months after covid, where for my family in particular, rising grocery store prices vs eating out were about comparable although both budget breaking compared to where we were. Now, although grocery prices are still up and seem to be rising, it's finally getting back to us "saving" money by just cooking at home.

[KurtCobain]

Originally Posted by Fish

JFC that is insane.

The average US family spends about $438 per month on food. Not individual, family...

There's no way that holds true any more. What size family? For one adult male, one toddler, one teenage girl and a pregnant woman, while couponing and going to different stores for sales, we're spending about 200 a week(on the low end).

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

Originally Posted by AdolfOliverBush

In the last couple of weeks, I've noticed many of the prices at the grocery store starting to trend down. Eggs, for example, are plentiful and down to $3.19 a dozen. Still high, but nearly half of what they were a month ago.

Yeah right. Prove it.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by crayzkirk

Been a long day; tired and rambling post. I don't know how any of the fast food places stay open.

The short answer is that they aren't staying open.

Seen tons of them close in recent weeks, mostly because they can't find enough help.

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

Originally Posted by Hank Hill

You better tip me on DoorDash you cheap BASTARD!!!!!

I would never shortchange the Propane Man.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by notorious

I’ve been cutting my own hair for the last 25 years. Cut my boys hair, too.

We live 15 miles out to town. Cooking is mandatory.

My dad used to cut my hair as well. Then, one day, he was just like "I'm not cutting your hair anymore. Figure it out."

Worked out well because I did figure it out and it's saved me thousands over my lifetime.

[AdolfOliverBush]

Originally Posted by MarkDavis'Haircut

Yeah right. Prove it.

Prove I'm lying, dummy.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by notorious

I’ve been cutting my own hair for the last 25 years. Cut my boys hair, too.

We live 15 miles out to town. Cooking is mandatory.

We live out in the country too. We've taken to using those boxed home delivery services (Home Chef, etc.) and we're finding that with the prices at the grocery store lately, it isn't all that more expensive. Plus it's all properly portioned so we never have waste or anything. So in the end, it might actually be a wash.

[jerryaldini]

Originally Posted by Fish

JFC that is insane.

The average US family spends about $438 per month on food. Not individual, family...

That seems way too low. If you price out your grocery meals it's hard to get below 3 dollars, which would be 270 per month per person. I think normal is between 300-400 per person.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

The short answer is that they aren't staying open.

Seen tons of them close in recent weeks, mostly because they can't find enough help.

Really? I haven’t seen any close in Des Moines.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Really? I haven’t seen any close in Des Moines.

Yeah Des Moines is a larger market with a larger employee base. It's not as prevalent there as it is in the smaller towns outside of Des Moines.

Around here, if the stores haven't closed down completely they're opening later and closing earlier because they just don't have enough staff.