Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?
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Dining at a restaurant is almost always more expensive than a home-cooked meal. Most people can't afford to dine out every night, but for some, the occasional experience of having a tasty meal that you don't have to spend the time and effort to prepare is worth the extra cost.
How often do you dine out? What are your favorite, go-to eateries when you want to have a restaurant meal? What do you usually enjoy most when you're dining out?
Tell us how often you dine out and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
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I probably eat out twice a month on average. It depends on if I am visiting my boyfriend or not because we usually eat out more those weekends to maximize time. Generally, it is just some fast food, or something along the lines of Applebee's unless we have a groupon or craving.
I try to limit myself to eating out only once for lunch during the week, and once or twice for supper. My favorite place is a local Thai restaurant that has excellent pho.
I eat out at least twice a week - usually at least one lunch meal and one dinner.
Once or twice, mostly weekends.
We do twice a month. It's much healthier and better on your waistline to cook at home
I'd say we go out to eat 3-4 times a month.
I dine out twice a week. I like Greek and Italian restaurants
My husband and I typically try to eat out once a week- once a month is a nicer sit down meal, and the others are fairly inexpensive!
Before I had our 4th child, we used to dine out once a week but now we've scaled it back to twice a month.
I dine out once a month because it is too expensive to eat out, plus I always know I can cook a better meal for way less.
I eat out almost every day for lunch. I know it's a bit excessive, but my schedule is so hectic so it's much more convenient. Also, I am a regular at a local cafe that provides sandwiches and soaps at a reasonable price.
On the flip side, I eat in for dinner almost every night!
Now that we have a baby, we haven't been going out to eat but definitely have been doing a fair share of carry-out during the week
I probably eat out about once every week or two on average, not counting if I eat out for work.
We eat out three to four times a month
I eat out about once a week, usually with my mom or grandpa on the weekend. Sometimes, Chipotle or Which Wich with friends. It's mostly a social thing.
My husband and I will eat out at a "nicer" place about twice a month. We will get fast food more like two to three times a week. It'd be nice to cut back on the fast food, but it seems like we're always on the run! We never eat out for lunch during the work week at least. That would add up way too fast!
I go out for breakfast maybe twice a month and then dinner at a nice restaurant is once a month.
I dine out a few times a month and, when I do, I usually go for sushi or teppanyaki since I can't make those things at home and they're delicious.
Twice a week.
i eat out daily because i'm in a temporary housing situation so i cannot cook but i can make microwaveable stuff so even when i eat at home, i still go out for coffee in the morning
I dine out maybe once every 2-3 months. I'll usually go out for steak or Mexican food. It's nice to be able to relax and not cook or just to eat something different.
We have cut down our eating out to once per week and we always find a good deal or coupon. It definately saves money for a family of 5.
Twice a month - much less than we used to.
We dine out about once a week or once every two weeks. Our favorite place is a local restaurant called "The Turkey Roost" - they specialize in turkey dinners, but they also have Wednesday Turkey Pot Pie Night and Friday Fish Fry. The owner has mastered these dishes and it's truly a treat to dine there. I also love the soups and sandwiches, which are always good. Bonuses to eating there include getting your meal in under 5 minutes (you can be in and out in around 20 minutes if you're in a hurry), top quality ingredients, and great prices. What I enjoy most there is the pot pie and the perch, both of which are the best I've ever had anywhere.
I eat out 4 times a week typically!
We usually eat twice a month to cut back with our monthly spending.
Probably no more than 3 times a month. We usually use gift cards OR we go to a super amazing (and cheap!) Mexican taco truck for the best tacos in the area.
I dine out about 3-4 times per week
About 3-4 times per week
We eat out about once every two months. I eat much healthier at home. I love going out for Mexican food though. Best part- no clean up!
We eat out once or twice a week only. However, we used to eat out many, many meals in a week ... until I was diagnosed with celiac disease last summer. Now eating out is more difficult and risky.
We have cut down due to diet - maybe twice a month now.
Not often! Maybe twice a month. We really enjoy cooking, so sometimes we'll buy nicer ingredients or try a new recipe and that is our fun.
We used to dine out at least once a week. Now, maybe once a month...if we must. I find that as I get older, food sensitivities are higher and it's so much easier to control it by cooking myself. I don't miss eating out because when we do, I end up aching or feeling badly the next day.
I rarely eat out. If I do, it's a lunch date with a friend. I think you get a lot more bang for your buck at lunch. My favorite local restaurant offers a rewards program that offers money towards your next visit for dining there. Plus, I use a credit card to pay that has excellent points for restaurants.
Since I've started saving and concentrating on finances, I have eaten out once in the past seven months. Favorite eateries include those that serve Thai, Indian, and Caribbean food. My favorite aspect of dining out is indubitably the shared experience of enjoying a special evening with my SO. Hope to start this again soon!
I dine out once a week. I would love to go out more but I don't have the money.
I eat out about once a week.
Usually do some type of take out once a week.
I don't eat out very often, mostly to save money. I like to get take-out from our favorite Chinese restaurant that has been there for 35 years about once a month. Otherwise, maybe once a month if I have coupons.
Usually once or a twice a month as a date night with my husband.
3-4 times per week.
On Friday evenings with coworkers or the roommate at a nicer restaurant because let's be honest, TGIF when you're there after a long work week.
On Saturday every other week with friends and family.
Sometimes a quick and cheap lunch on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.
We limit 2-3 times a month to cut back on spending.
My husband and I out dine out once a month if we're lucky, usually at a place that has some seafood options. Having a son with autism who has a really hard time in restaurants mean we (the family) generally don't go out to eat. During the summer my daughter and I eat breakfast at a restaurant twice a month. We like to eat at a restaurant called La Madeleine's. I really like to sit down, be served, and not have to do the clean up afterward!
I eat out about 2-3 times a week. I try to cut down but its hard. I love good food.
We try to limit 1-2 times a month to cut back on our spending.
I go out for lunch once a week. Its a special treat that I really enjoy!
I eat out a couple times a month. I try to use gift cards if I have them.
Once or twice a week in the summer. In winter, it's more like once a week.
About 1-2 times a week.
We eat out on the weekends. It's a nice time for my husband and myself to have alone time and a nice meal.
My husband and I eat out only for special occasions: birthdays, out-of-town company, anniversary. We make sure it's a special restaurant with food we really love. We gave up eating out for convenience or laziness years ago.
Maybe once a month or less for lunch and even less for dinner. It is expensive for a family to eat out. We leave it for special occasions and vacation.
We eat out after church on sundays as a family, then my wife and I always eat at our local steakhouse on Wednesdays because they run a pretty gooddeal on a complete meal.
I usually dine out about 2 times a week. What I like most is hanging out with friends and good conversation. I almost never eat out alone. Its a good way to stay connected.
Generally I go out to a "fancier" restaurant about once a month, but out to eat during the work week to a quicker stop in restaurant (Qdoba, Subway) around 2 times a week -- (this is something I would like to cut back on!)
I'd say on average about 2-4 times a month, almost always for dinner.
Once a paycheck (every two weeks) and not anything expensive.
At least twice a week, it's hard to resist when there are so many restaurants down the street.
We have one night each weekend planned as a "family dine out night". Unfortunately, for our budget (and our waistlines), here lately our schedules have led us to have a dine out night during the week as well.
We have one night each weekend planned as a "family dine out night". Unfortunately, for our budget (and our waistlines), here lately our schedules have led us to have a dine out night during the week as well.
My boyfriend and I will typically eat out about 2 or 3 times a month. We like to go to places where the food is healthy and where we can get a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. So typically we'll go somewhere that has a big, fresh salad bar. We enjoy sampling lots of foods too, so a good buffet is always nice.
I eat out only between January and April - I live in Florida and this is when the prices on the menu's actually drop between 5-7% and I travel with an organized sport. Otherwise I chose to cook and eat at home. I am lucky enough to have a family that HATES fast food... so this is the way we live :)
I try to eat out as little as possible - usually once or twice a month, and only because it's either a social occasion to share with friends, or I've been too lazy to plan ahead and cook something.
usually once a week for lunch with a co-worker and maybe once every two weeks for a family dinner.
Two or three times per week. I go out every Friday at lunch and then to Friendlies, Panera or the 99's for dinner.
We don't eat at restaurants very often, maybe once or twice a month, if that, but we do get take-out and fast food more than we should.
I usually eat out about twice a week, once for lunch and then also for dinner.
I rarely dine out. When I do I choose menus which are priced no higher than $25. Retired and I enjoy cooking my own healthier meals.
Twice a month
On birthdays. Maybe 5 times a year for a family of 5.
It's expensive to eat out as a family so we try to limit it to once a week, maybe twice if we have a coupon.
I eat out about 5 times a week. I am usually too tired to cook.
We dine out maybe twice a month. I don't like spending money on food. I really only eat out if I'm craving something in particular or to celebrate something with my son.
We very seldom go out to eat. Perhaps once a month? I prefer my own cooking because I know the ingredients are fresh!
I seldom eat out, maybe once or twice a month. I only eat at fast food places or casual sit-down restaurants.
Because we both work evening shifts, we go out for lunch at least once a week. Then on our mutual day off, we will go out for dinner.
I rarely eat out because I am watching my budget.
Hardly ever. My husband has hearing loss so we only go out if I have someone else to talk to.
We go out way more than we should, maybe 8 times a month? We need to cut back and make more things at home.
We eat out as a family roughly once a week. Between the snacks and drinks my wife and girls may eat while out, that's probably another twice a week.
I would say that I dine out every other two weeks. I love korean food and sometimes I go to Groupon and get a coupon, pay and go out with my cousin. I end up saving up a few bucks
I dine out way too often, probably about once every day or every other day. Sometimes if I'm busy and can't cook then twice a day.
i eat out maybe 1-3 times on the weekend
We do not eat out too often, I would say about once a month or even every other month. Having celiac disease, I have to be careful where I go so I do not get sick.
Only once or twice a month.
Probably dine out during birthdays, special occassions and on vacation trips.
We dine out about once every 3-4 months, but we do take out about once a month.
Probably once a week.
I try not to eat out just because I am worried about food poisoning and people not handling the food properly but I do eat out for social situations and events, so maybe every couple of weeks or if I am desperate I will eat fast food.
We go to a restaurant about once a month but we do order pizza delivery about once every other week.
I usually eat out once a week at a fast casual place that's fairly inexpensive.
I eat out with my family about once a week.
I dine out once per month.