Busy cooking or busy eating out?

[chefdiva]

As we work hard to earn money, our time spent at home become lesser. The time spending cooking has become impossible because of our hectic life style. Do you opt to eat outside or just take away food?

[Mrs. Chipotle]

Honestly, it doesn't take any longer to cook and eat a meal than it does to drive to the restaurant, wait for your food, and eat it. Now, I love a good meal out and we probably go to restaurants about once a week, but cooking doesn't have to be complicated nor time consuming.

[mtmomj]

Lately I have been doing a lot of eating out. My husband just started a new job and is working all kinds of crazy hours and just don't have the time to cook right now. It has been a nice break the past couple of days though.

[r8rpwr]

I'm with Mrs. Chipotle; it doesn't really take any longer to cook than to eat out. A restaurant meal takes a good hour, not including driving there and if you have to wait for a table.

Of course, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a nice restaurant meal, but I don't really think it's more convenient when you look at the time spent.

[medako]

we don't live in an area that's real condusive to eating out, so we rarely eat out during the week (we go out for lunch once on the weekend). It's much easier to cook something at home. I can easily put together a meal in half an hour if necessary. We couldn't hardly get to somewhere to eat in that amount of time.

[lcsamano]

For awhile we were eating out every night. My Dh and I have really weird working schedules so it was just easier. However, we got burnt out and so did our checkbook.LOL... Now we just eat at home. The kids eat early and then my DH and I will eat when I get home.

[Lila42]

There's something to be said about not having to clean anything up...But it's too expensive with teenage boys to eat out that often..For example, we went to Arby's recently, they each had two beef and cheddars, fries, and soda. (They had a sale, five items for $5.) Even with that it was $20 for all of us because they eat so darn much. A lot cheaper to cook at home.

[medako]

Recently my husband has started carpooling to work and he parks outside a place that has a Subway inside. If I'm really feeling tired of cooking, I'll have him pick up some sandwiches before he comes home. But the nice part about that Subway is that there are coupons on the receipt. So every time we get sandwiches, we get more BOGO coupons. It doesn't feel quite so bad "eating out" when we can both eat for about $6.

Also, if you're looking for a less expensive way to eat out, Subway has specials going that aren't always advertised. Like 2 ft. longs for $9 after 5pm and all weekend. The $3 and $5 daily specials. And now, on Tuesdays they have specials all day with footlongs starting at $2.99. Pair that up with some chips and drinks at home and you have a fairly inexpensive meal at home.

Goodness, I sound like a Subway ad today.

We also frequent a place called Qdoba (a burrito place kinda like Subway where they make it in front of you). I came across a BOGO coupon online somewhere and can print them any time (with no expiration date). My husband and I can eat for $7-9, depending on what we order.

[lcsamano]

Medako, you made a point. You can eat out for very little if you find coupons. Dominos runs those specials for 3 for $5 each. This isn't bad considering a frozen pizza in th stores is about the same. With Dominos everyone can have their favorite topping and have extrs for lunch.

[Lila42]

With two teenage boys, with voracious appetites, it's really expensive for us to eat out. The Dominos' three for five is the best deal going for us. I am not a big pizza eater, so my husband and the boys will eat the pizzas. Usually there is a slice or two left for lunch. I will just eat a sandwich. I am just happy when I don't have to cook.