Am I the only cheap-o here?

We're going on vacation Friday so I've been looking at some websites for dining in that area. OMG!!!! An average meal at a decent place is $18.95!!! My husband is a BIG eater so he usually orders 2 meals. (No he's not fat just BIG) For instance at AppleBees and other similar places, he'll eat his meal, order another one and finish mine.....and not gain weight but that's besides the point.

If he had to order 2 meals at these places, we would have at least a $60 bill every time we sat down. I guess well be eating at BK and McD's a lot.

I just can't see the sense in paying high prices for the same meat that you would get in any other place. Am I the only one who feels this way? Or am I just a cheap-o?

You're not the only one, Catherine!! My husband is struggling with cheap-ism. You're not quite as bad as him, though. When we go to a fast food restaurant that gives free refills, he gets a water and shares MY soda.

The worst argument we ever had was when he went to Walmart to get cat food and came home with that "Special Kitty" brand.

I swear, if it werent' for me--that man would never open his wallet. It's weird because the better off we are financially, the worse he gets

No, you're not a cheap-o! I think that's a lot for a meal, too. But you may be able to find other places to eat after you get there. Might even find an "all -you-can-eat" buffet!

BTW - even at BK and Mickey D's, I think some of their items are too expensive. How's that for cheap!

Originally Posted by gemlady

BTW - even at BK and Mickey D's, I think some of their items are too expensive. How's that for cheap!

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I do too!!! I'm refuse to pay $5.00 for a salad from a fast food joint when I can go get a salad bar somewhere for the same price.

My husband hates it when we go to a new place to dine. I go in, look at the menu and if it's too expensive I walk out. He gets sooooo embarrassed. He's just stay and take the hit in the wallet but not me!

i'm the opposite, both my husband and i usually buy the most expensive meal

but we are fussy and don't eat mcdonalds or hungry jacks, my husband says it tastes aweful, i don't like kfc because it's always dripping with fat and that can't be a good thing

last time we went to a restaurant we spent nearly $60 each and that didn't include drinks or dessert....i had dessert that time because his work was paying

when i'm at home i cook everything from scratch, we don't eat packet food so it always tastes good, usually we go to restaurants so i can have a rest from cooking .


as for your question, no, i don't think your cheap at all, everyone is different.



love,

felicia

Originally Posted by Kellyyfaber

You're not the only one, Catherine!! My husband is struggling with cheap-ism. You're not quite as bad as him, though. When we go to a fast food restaurant that gives free refills, he gets a water and shares MY soda.

The worst argument we ever had was when he went to Walmart to get cat food and came home with that "Special Kitty" brand.

I swear, if it werent' for me--that man would never open his wallet. It's weird because the better off we are financially, the worse he gets

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You're not alone, Kelly If I want to go out to dinner for a special occassion, the thing out of his mouth, is not a question as to where I would like to go for my birthday or anniversary , but he tells me what restaurants he has coupons for Luckily, he knows never to mess with the cat food.

I'm cheap like that too. Most times when traveling, I do the fast food places simply because I can't see paying upwards of $30 just for me and in many places that's what it costs to eat. Around town, I have an Entertainment Coupon book that I use to make decision about where I'm going to eat if I eat out.

If I had a big eater like your husband, I'd definately be looking into an All-You-Can-Eat place. Or a family style place that gives refillable sides.

I'm cheap about a lot of things, but not food. I really, really hate fast food and don't trust it at all. I love spending money (usually my bfs ) on a good restaurant. And sushi is not cheap.

I try to mostly eat in anyway.

You might want to see if you can find a hotel that has kitchen facilities. (I think the Residence Inn offers a full service small kitchen in each room)

NO! I am PROUD to call myself a cheap-o also!!

To me a reasonable price for a lunch or dinner would be around $7!

Next week, my co workers and I will be going out to lunch after our retreat and 1 co worker and I are trying to figure out how to inform the boss that the restraunt the committee picked is WAY TOOOOOO EXPENSIVE! (The committee said they picked a reasonably priced restuarant.. I looked and the AVERAGE cost for that place is between $20 to $40!)

NO WAY BUDDY.. Crossing fingers that the boss will tell the committee to change the plan to go to a more reasonable place..

We got so sick of paying ridiculous prices for bad food, the last short trip we went on, we took drinks in a cooler, snacks, and sandwich makings. It was nice, picnics at the rest areas, and we saved a load of money, just on a 2 day trip. We are making that same trip on July 4th weekend, and will likely do the same thing again.

I am a semi cheapo. I have relaxed somewhat from what I used to be. I'd rather have money than stuff, which is weird in a way, because you only need money to get stuff, but it's the security I like, and I figure the more secure the better right?! I aim to spend $2.10 at lunch everyday, even though I would LOVE to eat something besides the value menu. I would take my lunch but found that it's more expensive because I spend every other day at bf's house (and he every other day at mine) and stuff just goes bad before it's used. When we get a place together I will be brown baggin it every day.

As far as vacations go, not only do i get a place w/a kitchen, but I scour the ads around here for stuff and get it on sale and freeze it, then take it with me in a big cooler hehe, so I won't be forced to buy stuff that's not on sale at a vacation area grocery store.

At dinner I cringe when bf orders pop and an appetizer, because who really needs it. I looove appetizers but $6 vs a lobster fondue? Oh I guess that way it doesn't seem that much, but drinks and appetizers can run up the bill by $10 and if we're talking alcohol it's much more.

On our long vacation we tend to eat out at one fancy extravagant place where food is like $30 a piece, but that is one night once a year so I try to look past it although I can't look at the bill when we're done or I would probably get sick and puke up my $30 food

It's actually cheaper if you don't take a vacation . Our "vacations" consist of running up to Chattanooga to my sister's and brother's-in-law for the weekend! My BIL always insists on paying for the meal when we go out, I think we've managed to snatch it away from him ONCE, he's too fast for us! Otherwise I don't think we've ever been to a "nice" restaurant; for a treat we go to a local nice BBQ place that has very good Killian's on tap. I think our bill, with 2 beers apiece and the tip (and we're generous tippers,) usually runs us around $30-35.

I am a bargain hunter - I shop sales, discount houses and thrift stores. However, I do NOT stint on food and am willing to pay for quality. I don't find it difficult to pay upwards of $50 for good food, well-prepared, in a restaurant with impeccable service and ambiance.

My mom is like that! For example, I remember when I was growing up, she would let me get food from the Tim Horton's drive-thru if we were going somewhere, but then we would have to drive across town to the grocery store parking lot to get a drink from the pop machine, because it was 50 cents cheaper than buying it at Tim Hortons! Her extreme cheapness has actual turned me into the opposite - I spend way, way too much, above my means, because I'm just so excited to finally (I lived at home until two years ago) be able to spend money instead of hoarding it now that I'm on my own and can spend it as I like.

If we are doing short trips or say we are driving to my sisters (17 hrs away) I'll usually pack water,sodas, snacks, sandwiches rather that stop at a restaurant. I work right next door to a MCdonalds. I RARELY eat there. Lots of times I'll go to the grocery store during lunch. The nearby store features a great deli, a soup and salad bar, a chinese takeout place and good sandwiches. Its a much better deal and more tastefull that the fast food places.

Your not the only one with all our critters have to pinch pennies on our selves..and vert often do lol..we think a big meal is going to the little local Chineese place...where a meal is 4.95

Originally Posted by SaveTheKitties

You might want to see if you can find a hotel that has kitchen facilities. (I think the Residence Inn offers a full service small kitchen in each room)

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I like a room with a kitchenette. I don't like cooking in a mini kitchen, but at least you can have sandwiches or fruit in the fridge! Or if you get leftovers from an expensive meal you can save them for later!

Well, we're staying in a cabin and I am bringing some meat that I have frozen so we can cook. I'm also carrying an ice chest everywhere with luch meat, drinks and bread so we can eat on the run during the day if we're not at the cabin but it's my vacation too so I do want to do SOME eating out at night.

We splurge on special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays but that's about it. A good priced meal for me is somewhere around $7-$12 with $12 being a little on the high side if it's not a special time.

I think that the drinks will save us mucho $$$$$$!!!! You know when you go to tourist places they double the drink prices along with everything else but you can't do without hydrating yourself. Bringin our own drinks will probably save us at least $100 over the week between me, hubby & son.

I'll have to tell my husband that I'm not the only cheap-o!! He probably won't believe me!

Originally Posted by Kellyyfaber

You're not the only one, Catherine!! My husband is struggling with cheap-ism. You're not quite as bad as him, though. When we go to a fast food restaurant that gives free refills, he gets a water and shares MY soda.

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When we somewhere that has free re-fills I get the small. Why pay almost $1.00 more when you get another drink free?

Oh yeah, and if the drinks are more than $1.25.....I order water.