We’ve all been there; when you’re too tired to cook, you treat yourself to dinner out. But lately, many people feel that restaurant prices have gone out of control, and in the meantime, the quality of the food has gone down. One woman shared her experience online and asked what others do when they don’t want to cook but also don’t want to waste money on bad food.
The story
A woman posted on Reddit saying she just wanted a night off from cooking. She took her husband and kid out to a local family restaurant, as they always go out at least once a month. But this time, the bill was nearly $95 for three basic meals: pizza, a burger, a grilled sandwich, and one appetizer. On top of that, the food was of poor quality.
Her turkey sandwich tasted off, and she was pretty sure the meat had gone bad, so she didn't even finish her food. It wasn’t just one bad night. She said the same thing had been happening for months, prices going up while food quality kept dropping.
She wrote that she doesn’t mind paying for a nice dinner, but it’s getting harder to justify spending that much money when the food isn’t even good. So she asked the Reddit community to share what they do in situations like this, when they feel too tired to cook and want to treat themselves to good food.
The reactions
Some replies shared about saving money while still eating out occasionally. One said, “Try to use the current promo for that restaurant. We don’t order pop and drink water. No alcohol.”
This is a smart strategy. Drinks can add up costs; two sodas can cost as much as a side dish. If you want to treat yourself, order the food and skip the extras. A lot of restaurants have rotating coupons or app deals, too. Check them often, you can save a lot when you buy a meal through promotions.
Someone mentioned a middle-ground option, not cooking, but not dining out either. “Costco has some prepackaged meals that are actually pretty good quality. To me, they are still a splurge, but they’re as good a quality as you’ll usually get at a restaurant and much less expensive.”
Costco has many frozen meals, such as deep-dish pizza or Mandarin orange chicken, that can easily feed a family of three for under $20. You don’t have to cook anything; heat it in the oven, and it is ready. It tastes good, and costs way less than eating out.
Then someone mentioned one of the best underrated food options, “Food trucks. Some of them are def not the greatest, but I’m telling you, some of them are AMAZING.”
Food trucks are often run by people who actually cook the food themselves, and you can tell by the unique flavors and freshness in the food. In my area, a taco truck near the hardware store serves better carne asada than most sit-down restaurants. It’s cheaper, too, and I never had an issue with the food quality.
A few people also talked about planning for those lazy nights when you don’t feel like cooking. One said, “I prep my ‘I don’t wanna cook’ meals on the weekend. Meal prep is just one more extra.”
I always keep a few extra meals in the freezer. If I’m making lasagna or stew, I cook a bit more and freeze the leftovers. On days I don’t feel like cooking, I pull one out, heat it, and it’s basically like having a fresh meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
Others suggested ordering food that they are sure won’t disappoint, and is worth the money. One person shared, “We order something in our budget and make sure it’s from a place that’s consistently good.” Another said, “We order pizza. It’s not too expensive if you find a place with deals and coupons, and the quality seems the same as it’s always been.”
Pizza is still one of the few takeout meals that hasn’t gotten too expensive. Most local spots have weekday specials or “two-for-one” deals that you can enjoy without draining your wallet. It’s always a good option for a lazy night.
Some users said chain restaurants are often better in terms of food quality and pricing, as one comment said, “I think this is where going to the chain restaurants helps. At least you know the quality (whatever it is) that you’re getting is consistent wherever you go.”
Chain restaurants might not be amazing, but at least you know what you’re getting. Sometimes that’s all you want after a long day, something familiar you don’t have to think about, like Chipotle or Olive Garden.
And then one person bluntly said, “Simple answer to your question, but you’re not gonna like it. Stop giving them money.”
If a restaurant keeps disappointing you, don’t reward them with another try. Sometimes staying home or grabbing something frozen is better than pouring money down the drain.
Being a foodie myself, I get the urge to give a restaurant another chance; maybe it was a new staff, or the chef was having a bad day, but at some point, you realize it’s not worth it. I’d rather use that money on good groceries or support a small local place that actually serves food with flavor.
The takeaway
Eating out is not as enjoyable as it used to be, according to many. Now, not only is eating out more expensive, but it’s also a hit-or-miss. You don’t have to stop eating out altogether, but be mindful of where you eat so you don’t waste your money.
Go to the places that offer consistent quality. On other nights, frozen meals, food trucks, or even leftovers from your own kitchen might leave you more satisfied, and with some money still in your pocket.
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