« Check Your Mailbox | Home | Economic Control »
Dining Out
By Daphne | April 28, 2008
Dining as a form of entertainment is waning which means that people in the food service industry suffer as well.
Eating out was always an easy and convenient way of having a meal; you saved time and energy. You didn’t have to prepare your own meal. There were no real health benefits to eating out because many of the meals are larger portions than you would regularly eat at home and also many meals have more sodium. Yet, people still would enjoy a meal or two away from home. As prices for things have climbed for gasoline and even the costs of food in general, eating out has become a luxury.
For consumers, the closing of their neighborhood restaurants may be one of the most visible signs of a slowing economy. The chains anchor strip malls and highway exits, busy street corners and suburban downtowns. Trying to ingratiate themselves with the community, many restaurants fill their lobbies with local high-school pennants and yearbook photos or sponsor little-league teams.
Restaurants have been cutting back because of the higher prices that they have to pay. So ,the really huge portion that you may have received at a restaurant a few months ago may not be as large and the price may be the same or higher. This is not due to some altruistic health program for the customers. This is because restaurant suppliers and shippers have higher costs which means that the restaurants have higher costs and that means that when the food gets to you, it costs more as well.
If you are going to eat out, make it an event. Even if you are going to McDonald’s once a month or a quick service food chain: enjoy your meal. Budget for eating out. It may be the only time that you are eating out in the month or every other month.
Remember not so long ago in most people’s lifetimes? The majority of meals were not consumed out of the home. Even partially prepared for out of the box meals were made at home and they are less expensive than restaurant food. The fast food restaurants that younger generations know and eat often were treats. If we go back to dining as a special experience, it will make a difference in your budget and possibly health.
Dining out is often vilified just as fast food is vilified. Even if you ate the wrong foods at home on a regular basis, you would not receive any health benefits. Eating a balanced meal in a restaurant is possible as well.
Rising costs across the board have made people consider what is important and what is not important. Spending money on absolute necessities is what is important to many Americans right now and if that means that cutting out entertainment or other non-imperative forms of consumption then dining out is the first to go.
Being too conservative or frugal can make you resentful. Even if you can’t or choose not to afford things that you once wouldn’t think twice about, plan for the future. Set aside a small amount each month for fun - a little splurge within reason. This is not a time to splurge on a new plasma tv or dinner at Everest. If you want to eat out once in a while whether it is your favorite burrito place or if you have a taste for prime rib, splurge once in a while. Spending money on an occasional treat is not wasteful. Spending money on a daily treat when you cannot afford it is being foolhardy.
Lastly, when you do decide to splurge and treat yourself… PAY CASH!
Topics: April 2008 |
April 28th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Its no longer cost effect to dine out unless you have too. There are no more great deal and the prices in most restaurants have been increased at least 15% if not more.