How often do you get take-outs?

Rogan Josh · September 19, 2003, 05:14

Since the wife and I both work, we don't have time to do much cooking. We normally get home at around 8 or 9pm and are just too shattered to cook.

So lately we have been getting more and more take-out meals.

Of course, being Scottish, I find this very disturbing. These meals are expensive because the wife objects to getting take-outs from take-out places (since they are crap) and gets them from restraunts. I paid $40 for a Chinese take-out last night. The number of take-outs we get has been going up and up, and now it is not unusual to have 3 or 4 a week. (To be fair, $40 was unusual - we normally just order a meal for one and share it.)

When I complain about this the wife points out that the cost of a take-out is really only a little more than an hour's overtime pay for one of us. So it really makes more sense to stay later at work and get a take-out every night. (We always cook a proper meal otherwise.)

So how often do you eat take-outs? Is this just me being a stingy Scotsman, or are we being too extravagant?

FrustratedPoet · September 19, 2003, 05:37

Quote:

So how often do you eat take-outs?

Hardly ever since I'm back living at home now, but when I was at Uni I'd get a take-away of some description (usually Indian, Chinese, pizza or fish-and-chips) twice a week. Probably spent 10-20 pounds a week on them, depending on what I was in the mood for and how hungry I felt. Too much for a poor student really, but it beat shopping for food and cooking it myself.

Bas · September 19, 2003, 05:59

About once every one or two weeks... Mostly cheap stuff like pizza, every now and then chinese/indonesian. It's not that expensive really.

Skanky Burns · September 19, 2003, 06:03

Probably once a week. My fundage doesn't allow for it too often.

Sikander · September 19, 2003, 07:13

About 4-5 times a week. My girlfriend and I both work nights, which leaves us precious little time to cook as we tend to be either working or sleeping most of the time. We can both cook pretty well, but we don't tend to do that much of it except when we are off of work.

C0ckney · September 19, 2003, 08:18

usually once a week, occasionally more. tuesday is two for one offer at dominos, just over a fiver for a 12" pizza, yes please

sometimes order a naz kebab as well, which are lovely, nothing like the kebabs you buy after a night out

General Ludd · September 19, 2003, 08:22

Not at all since moving. They have no indian restaurants here, no good pizza places, nothing.

Actually, I have taken out a fallafel salad from a cafe once or twice...

molly bloom · September 19, 2003, 09:19

About once every month. There's so many good restaurants and cafes within easy walking distance it really doesn't make sense to have take away. But having said that, The Water Grill on Toorak Road does very good fish and chips and delicious pumpkin fritters, and succulent crumbed king prawns and calamari, all in their 'premium pack' to take away, at Au$ 10.40 which is about 4.50 sterling.

I do miss the taste of British chips though. Something to do with the beef dripping, I expect.

Urban Ranger · September 19, 2003, 11:01

Only for lunch, but that's at least 4 times a week. Sometimes we go for dim sum during lunch.

Oerdin · September 19, 2003, 11:09

Honestly, I used to eat out 8-10 times a week which was way to much. Since I recently became unemployed I've had to reorder my priorities so now I only eat out once or twice per week and I don't spend anything near $20 per perseon like you do.

Cruddy · September 19, 2003, 11:13

Quote:

Originally posted by Rogan Josh

So how often do you eat take-outs? Is this just me being a stingy Scotsman, or are we being too extravagant?

For me, the 3 factors are a) how much money I'm earning, b) the quality of the food and c) the amount of effort I'm saved.

If I'm pushed for time I'll go for a takeout - but only if it's as good as I could prepare myself.

To be honest, most take out food doesn't fit the criteria - but I'm a sucker for a weekend Indian.

So maybe once a week. Usually not that often.

Damn, I'm a good cook!

Japher · September 19, 2003, 11:57

I'm with Rogan Josh, but I manage to only have take out once or twice a week. It does get expensive. Fortunately for me Taco Bell is right aroud the corner and BJ's is just down the street, and they deliver, and are pretty cheap (about $20)... Ordering a Pizza in this town would require a loan (except for Take and Bake) and Chinesse would require someone to take a second on their mortgage. Rogan should look around and find something cheaper...

Sarxis · September 19, 2003, 12:03

I would eat out all the time if I had any semblance of an income.

Rogan Josh · September 19, 2003, 12:33

Quote:

Originally posted by Japher
Rogan should look around and find something cheaper...

The trouble is that I live in France, and the French are too stuck-up about food to have take-out food. So there isn't much choice.

Oerdin · September 19, 2003, 12:35

Well, you choice to marry a french girl so now you must put up with these minor inconviences.

Japher · September 19, 2003, 12:39

Let 'er eat cake.

Last time I was in France (over a decade ago) bread, cheese, and some deli was cheap...

Bosh · September 19, 2003, 12:45

the only times I eat take out is when my boss buys it for all the employees, which happens a good bit

mmmmmm, sweet sweet jjajangmeon....

Bugs ****ing Bunny · September 19, 2003, 12:47

Once a week, even though we both work.

RJ- you need to take a good hard look at your work/life balance.

Japher · September 19, 2003, 12:50

When I get home late I just make grilled cheese or something... Also, it only takes 5 minutes to get the grill going... 8 or 9 pm is really late though. LAz has got a good point...

Garth Vader · September 19, 2003, 12:54

I almost never eat out. I prefer to make my own stuff, with only one person eating I can make something bigger and have left overs for a couple of days so it doesn't really take that much time.

Urban Ranger · September 19, 2003, 22:47

Boshko,

Looks like you have a pretty good boss.

Rogan Josh · September 20, 2003, 05:48

Quote:

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp
RJ- you need to take a good hard look at your work/life balance.

Yeah I know, but we are both changing jobs again at the end of the year (moving back to blighty) so it shouldn't be for too much longer. It should be much quieter next year.

It is not having had a holiday at all this year that is really wearing me down...

Sirotnikov · September 20, 2003, 08:34

Well I only order take out on occassions such as parties or nights out.

A pizza is usually for in-doors eating, costing anywhere from 8 to 16 US dollars.

Otherwise we order different sandwiches or burgers costing from 4 to 9 dollars.

Jon Miller · September 20, 2003, 11:31

I eat at restaurants all the time and usually spend in the 30-40 dollar range (for 2)

I know it is a bit different than takeouts, but I use to do it every day and now still do it 3ish times a week

Jon Miller