TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

The REAL cost of delivery! Americans spend $70,000 on TAKEOUT food in their lifetimes

Momala · Great cook-happy wife-superb fisherman

Count DH and me in that 4%!

And the only "fast" food that we get
is Wal-Mart's fried chicken wings, when
we are shopping there. Unexpectedly,
they are actually quite good.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

So, if we didn't spend $70K on takeout then we would have spent it on groceries. There seems to be some false notion that making everything at home is always cheaper. It isn't. I can get a takeout meal and it really costs no more than if i made it at home so what is the big deal.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

Sometimes it really is cheaper to carry out. I can get a sandwich at subway for $6 ish. It would cost more to buy all the ingredients.

Forever Sunshine · Guru

Actually, I don't think it would cost more to make a sub at home, buying just what you need and no more, it would be less.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Forever Sunshine wrote:
Actually, I don't think it would cost more to make a sub at home, buying just what you need and no more, it would be less.

Well, it actually can cost more. If you are buying all the things that you put on it from green peppers, onions. banana peppers, etc. Yes, the cost per ounce is cheaper IF you then use all the ingredients you purchased for other meals. However, there are things I only want a little bit of and then to purchase all of the extra things, they would spoil so then my cost would be more. So, it can be just as cost effective to eat out.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Forever Sunshine wrote:
Actually, I don't think it would cost more to make a sub at home, buying just what you need and no more, it would be less.
Well, it actually can cost more. If you are buying all the things that you put on it from green peppers, onions. banana peppers, etc. Yes, the cost per ounce is cheaper IF you then use all the ingredients you purchased for other meals. However, there are things I only want a little bit of and then to purchase all of the extra things, they would spoil so then my cost would be more. So, it can be just as cost effective to eat out.

Yep, when you are single or small family, buying all the ingredients may seem less expensive, but then you end up throwing it away because singles don't eat it up before it expires.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

The difference is calculating costs.

It might cost $6 for a pound of deli meat, but you can get more than one sandwich out of it. So it's a better value.

Pizza is about the only thing you can get that costs the same for carry out as it does at home. A top brand freezer pizza is around $8. A delivered pizza is about the same.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

And where is all this saved money? I don't have extra money, do you?

It's going to be spent on something. Right?

Might as well skip cooking once in a while.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Well, i have tried to make Chinese and it doesn't taste anywhere near as good at take out. So, for the time , effort and expense to buy ingredients i wouldn't use up, it is cheaper to get take out if i want to eat chinese.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Well, yeah. I tend to get out what I can't get at home.

I think the point of the article is that, most are not cooking at all.

Momala · Great cook-happy wife-superb fisherman

Part of the problem for the millennials is that
they never had anyone around who could/would
teach them to cook. Both Mom and Grandma
work full time, so there's no interaction in the
kitchen. And the schools have done away with
Home Ec. and shop, so they don't know how to
make a stew, or bake bread, or sew on a button,
much less make a full outfit, or how to use power
tools or fix a clogged drain.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

lilyofcourse wrote:
The difference is calculating costs.

It might cost $6 for a pound of deli meat, but you can get more than one sandwich out of it. So it's a better value.

Pizza is about the only thing you can get that costs the same for carry out as it does at home. A top brand freezer pizza is around $8. A delivered pizza is about the same.

Small families/ single people won't eat up that much deli meat while it is fresh. Pizza delivery for a large is about $18 + tip in my area.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Well, i have tried to make Chinese and it doesn't taste anywhere near as good at take out. So, for the time , effort and expense to buy ingredients i wouldn't use up, it is cheaper to get take out if i want to eat chinese.

And the cost of the Chinese condiments if bought at the store! You pay for the wasabe at the store that you eventually will throw away. I hate food waste.

Lindley · Guru

I still believe it is healthier to cook a home meal then take out. Both my dd and dil both cook a lot of things from scratch more then I ever did. My dil had to learn a totally different way to cook from what was taught to her by her mother when her body developed a intolerance to gluten and both girls like to stay away from process foods as much as possible.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Momala wrote:

Part of the problem for the millennials is that
they never had anyone around who could/would
teach them to cook. Both Mom and Grandma
work full time, so there's no interaction in the
kitchen. And the schools have done away with
Home Ec. and shop, so they don't know how to
make a stew, or bake bread, or sew on a button,
much less make a full outfit, or how to use power
tools or fix a clogged drain.

I understand the issue with Home Ec not being taught. Love my local school district because they still teach it. We still have a hybrid educational system of academics and vocational. DD loves the cooking thing.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

No one delivers to my area so I have to pick up and take out. When I get a sub I get a ton of different veggies on it. It would cost a lot to buy all the different ingredients. Plus the rolls, can't just buy one or two here. All that would go bad before DD and I could eat it all.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
The difference is calculating costs.

It might cost $6 for a pound of deli meat, but you can get more than one sandwich out of it. So it's a better value.

Pizza is about the only thing you can get that costs the same for carry out as it does at home. A top brand freezer pizza is around $8. A delivered pizza is about the same.

Small families/ single people won't eat up that much deli meat while it is fresh. Pizza delivery for a large is about $18 + tip in my area.

I was using that as an example. Deli meat is good for 5 to 7 days. Sandwiches for lunch, snacks, even using it mixed in to other things like eggs or Mac and cheese, will use it up faster than you think.

Point is, in comparing cost per serving, it is cheaper, in the long run, to buy from the store, divide it up, and freeze it if you need to, than buying from a restaurant.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Ok. So let me ask you this, seeing that some are saying it's cheaper or more cost effective to sometimes eat out, which is delivery or take out, should restaurants accept EBT/TANF?

Seems there have been some serious hackles raised in the past about people on welfare using their benefits to buy anything but grocery store food.

Forever Sunshine · Guru

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
The difference is calculating costs.

It might cost $6 for a pound of deli meat, but you can get more than one sandwich out of it. So it's a better value.

Pizza is about the only thing you can get that costs the same for carry out as it does at home. A top brand freezer pizza is around $8. A delivered pizza is about the same.

Small families/ single people won't eat up that much deli meat while it is fresh. Pizza delivery for a large is about $18 + tip in my area.

Freezers are a wonderful invention. It works great for freezing all the extra while it's still fresh. Same with pizza. I can make four to six pizzas for the cost of buying one out, which is anywhere from $10 to $20 plus tip in my area, depending on toppings and where you purchase the take out.

Forever Sunshine · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
Ok. So let me ask you this, seeing that some are saying it's cheaper or more cost effective to sometimes eat out, which is delivery or take out, should restaurants accept EBT/TANF?

Seems there have been some serious hackles raised in the past about people on welfare using their benefits to buy anything but grocery store food.

Here, EBT/TANF cannot be used for prepared hot foods. But, one can use it for cold subs and such.

FNW · Guru

Much cheaper for me to make my own pizza as well. I found a quick crust recipe so I can make it any time. The boys prefer my pizzas, too, over Dominos. But I prefer to point and click. LOL

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Forever Sunshine wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
Ok. So let me ask you this, seeing that some are saying it's cheaper or more cost effective to sometimes eat out, which is delivery or take out, should restaurants accept EBT/TANF?

Seems there have been some serious hackles raised in the past about people on welfare using their benefits to buy anything but grocery store food.
Here, EBT/TANF cannot be used for prepared hot foods. But, one can use it for cold subs and such.

Same here, but my point is, why? And why the vile from some if it is brought up that those benefits be usable in restaurants?

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I think that most people consider eating out to be a luxury. One, that many working people cannot afford who live on the edge of barely making minimum wage salaries. So, yes, it would seem disturbing to see someone receiving welfare to be eating out. Most people are OK to pay welfare for those who really need it and it is meant to be a MINIMUM lifestyle not a maximum lifestyle which eating out would be part of. Just my opinion.

Forever Sunshine · Guru

The only reason I can think of is that those people who go out and pay for it from monies earned through a job feel those who do so and pay for it through government benefits didn't "earn" the right to it. Who knows. I sure don't. I know people bitch and complain about EBT'ers using that for filets and high priced products. Seems odd to me that they'd complain at all.

But, as a cashier, I shake my head at the waste of government benefits such as in WIC. I truly believe it's a great program and a necessity in most cases but customers come through my line with their WIC checks, which specify certain products they can purchase. The reason I shake my head is that in a month's time, customers are entitled to get like 18 gallons of milk. That's a ton of milk and most say they give it away because they would never use that much.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Did I miss something? When was EBT brought up?

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

W.I.C is incredibly wasteful and a pain to ring up.

As to the eating out, I'm not talking high end restaurants, I'm talking Cicis or Waffle House or Subway. If eating out can be cheaper than buying groceries, why get pissed at the mom that picks up Bojangles with food stamps on her way home from work now and then?

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

lilyofcourse wrote:
W.I.C is incredibly wasteful and a pain to ring up.

As to the eating out, I'm not talking high end restaurants, I'm talking Cicis or Waffle House or Subway. If eating out can be cheaper than buying groceries, why get pissed at the mom that picks up Bojangles with food stamps on her way home from work now and then?

How would high end restaurants be blocked from being used? Who gets to decide what is high end versus low end?

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
W.I.C is incredibly wasteful and a pain to ring up.

As to the eating out, I'm not talking high end restaurants, I'm talking Cicis or Waffle House or Subway. If eating out can be cheaper than buying groceries, why get pissed at the mom that picks up Bojangles with food stamps on her way home from work now and then?

Because I explained that above. Assistance is meant to keep people from starving. Not as a means to subsidize a lifestyle. Those are the rules and if they dont' like they can get a job and pay their own way.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

So even if it's cheaper, so what! Do you see the double standard?

You also falsely assume everyone receiving assistance doesn't work. That's where you are woefully mistaken. Most work.

It sucks that a working parent can't even pick up a hot rotisserie chicken to feed their family after working 12 hours.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Here's another nugget to chew on, 100% of assistance EBT gets put right back into the pool. None of it is saved or blown on anything other than food.

Sure, the benefits might get traded for something non edible, but what's on that card can only be spent on food.

So, it all helps in the economy.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

lilyofcourse wrote:
Here's another nugget to chew on, 100% of assistance EBT gets put right back into the pool. None of it is saved or blown on anything other than food.

Sure, the benefits might get traded for something non edible, but what's on that card can only be spent on food.

So, it all helps in the economy.

Lily, I think you came here to start a fight. No one here discounts the need for EBT. The problem issue is fraud and those receiving assistance wanting to go to a restaurant and use their EBT which of course is ridiculous. The system is so people don't starve, being able to go to a restaurant with their EBT paying for the meal is a ridiculous notion.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

No. Not looking for a fight. Just pointing out the hypocrisy.

If it's cheaper to pick up a subway sandwich than buying the stuff to make it at the store, then why not save money by getting it at Subway?

Is it better to stretch the money so they can eat all month, or better to buy the stuff at the store cause they don't need to be eating a restaurant sandwich?

Forever Sunshine · Guru

I will admit that I receive EBT. I work PT because around here, finding a FT job is next to impossible. No one here wants to hire FT because with PT they don't have to pay insurance(s). Anyway, while I do have time to cook for myself, usually, it sure would be nice to be able to buy a hot meal out once in awhile rather than having to cook all the time. As I said, you can buy a cold sub, if the store you're purchasing from accepts EBT; not all do or will. I'm not sure why the notion of purchasing a hot meal out is ridiculous. Can someone please explain to me why?

I do realize that people take advantage of the system and fraud is committed regularly but, in all honesty, what does it matter if a hot meal is purchased or not with it?

ETA: I also never understood why paper products such as TP or Paper Towels / napkins, or cleaning products cannot be bought with them. After all, we all need to clean and / or use TP.

-- Edited by Forever Sunshine on Sunday 10th of December 2017 09:07:54 PM

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

That's what I'm saying, FS.

When I was using EBT, and working 12 hour days, there were times I really just wanted to come home with a bucket of chicken and watch cartoons with my kids.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

lilyofcourse wrote:
W.I.C is incredibly wasteful and a pain to ring up.

As to the eating out, I'm not talking high end restaurants, I'm talking Cicis or Waffle House or Subway. If eating out can be cheaper than buying groceries, why get pissed at the mom that picks up Bojangles with food stamps on her way home from work now and then?

Because food stamps are meant to last and a family eating at Bojangles one time could easily equal a couple of meals from the grocery store. It's supposed to feed you the basic necessities - eating finance the luxury of eating out.

If a meal for 4 is $25 at Bojangles, how many groceries could that buy?

Based on regular prices -

$4.00 - A box of Cheerios

$3.00 - A gallon of milk

$2.00 - 3 lbs bananas

$6.00 - a pound of ground beef

$4.00 - a bag of potatoes

$2.00 - a bunch of broccoli

$3.00 - a loaf of bread

$1.00 - hamburger buns

And I could get most of that even cheaper based on sales or where I shop.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

If I didn't work, I would cook all the time. But both parents working, kid activities, etc. - there's not a lot of time for cooking.

Forever Sunshine · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
W.I.C is incredibly wasteful and a pain to ring up.

As to the eating out, I'm not talking high end restaurants, I'm talking Cicis or Waffle House or Subway. If eating out can be cheaper than buying groceries, why get pissed at the mom that picks up Bojangles with food stamps on her way home from work now and then?

Because food stamps are meant to last and a family eating at Bojangles one time could easily equal a couple of meals from the grocery store. It's supposed to feed you the basic necessities - eating finance the luxury of eating out.

If a meal for 4 is $25 at Bojangles, how many groceries could that buy?

Based on regular prices -
$4.00 - A box of Cheerios
$3.00 - A gallon of milk
$2.00 - 3 lbs bananas
$6.00 - a pound of ground beef
$4.00 - a bag of potatoes
$2.00 - a bunch of broccoli
$3.00 - a loaf of bread
$1.00 - hamburger buns

And I could get most of that even cheaper based on sales or where I shop.

So, anyone can take their EBT card and purchase filet mignon, prime rib, lobster, etc. at the grocery store, take it home and cook it, which is totally permissible according to the law / rules, but can't go out and buy chinese if they want because it's a hot meal already prepared by someone else? Does that really make sense?

-- Edited by Forever Sunshine on Sunday 10th of December 2017 10:12:50 PM

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Forever Sunshine wrote:
I will admit that I receive EBT. I work PT because around here, finding a FT job is next to impossible. No one here wants to hire FT because with PT they don't have to pay insurance(s). Anyway, while I do have time to cook for myself, usually, it sure would be nice to be able to buy a hot meal out once in awhile rather than having to cook all the time. As I said, you can buy a cold sub, if the store you're purchasing from accepts EBT; not all do or will. I'm not sure why the notion of purchasing a hot meal out is ridiculous. Can someone please explain to me why?

I do realize that people take advantage of the system and fraud is committed regularly but, in all honesty, what does it matter if a hot meal is purchased or not with it?
ETA: I also never understood why paper products such as TP or Paper Towels / napkins, or cleaning products cannot be bought with them. After all, we all need to clean and / or use TP.

-- Edited by Forever Sunshine on Sunday 10th of December 2017 09:07:54 PM

Paper products can be purchased with EBT, just not the food benefit portion.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
That's what I'm saying, FS.

When I was using EBT, and working 12 hour days, there were times I really just wanted to come home with a bucket of chicken and watch cartoons with my kids.

You were working 12 hours a day 5 days a week? So, use your working money to buy a bucket of chicken. Sheesh.

Forever Sunshine · Guru

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
Forever Sunshine wrote:
I will admit that I receive EBT. I work PT because around here, finding a FT job is next to impossible. No one here wants to hire FT because with PT they don't have to pay insurance(s). Anyway, while I do have time to cook for myself, usually, it sure would be nice to be able to buy a hot meal out once in awhile rather than having to cook all the time. As I said, you can buy a cold sub, if the store you're purchasing from accepts EBT; not all do or will. I'm not sure why the notion of purchasing a hot meal out is ridiculous. Can someone please explain to me why?

I do realize that people take advantage of the system and fraud is committed regularly but, in all honesty, what does it matter if a hot meal is purchased or not with it?
ETA: I also never understood why paper products such as TP or Paper Towels / napkins, or cleaning products cannot be bought with them. After all, we all need to clean and / or use TP.

-- Edited by Forever Sunshine on Sunday 10th of December 2017 09:07:54 PM
Paper products can be purchased with EBT, just not the food benefit portion.

Yes, I am aware that EBT also includes cash . . . for some. However, if you don't have children, you cannot receive any cash assistance at all. So, seniors, like myself, have to scrape up the cash some how to pay for things like TP, cleaning products, etc. Why does there have to be a designation to the benefits at all? Why can't it just be that a person is eligible to receive a certain amount and it's up to them how to spend it on food and other necessities?

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

Because the irresponsible people ruin that for others.

Forever Sunshine · Guru

Southern_Belle wrote:
Because the irresponsible people ruin that for others.

Hahaha yep, I get that's the reason, probably. Hence the reason I am against collective punishment for one person's screwups. Doesn't solve the problem some of us, without young, qualifying children, have in using EBT.

Lindley · Guru

Yes unfortunately the ones who abuse it are the ones who get noticed more then those who use it correctly. I think it's because the ones who use it irresponsibly are the ones who neglect their children so of course that makes people upset.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Forever Sunshine wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
W.I.C is incredibly wasteful and a pain to ring up.

As to the eating out, I'm not talking high end restaurants, I'm talking Cicis or Waffle House or Subway. If eating out can be cheaper than buying groceries, why get pissed at the mom that picks up Bojangles with food stamps on her way home from work now and then?

Because food stamps are meant to last and a family eating at Bojangles one time could easily equal a couple of meals from the grocery store. It's supposed to feed you the basic necessities - eating finance the luxury of eating out.

If a meal for 4 is $25 at Bojangles, how many groceries could that buy?

Based on regular prices -
$4.00 - A box of Cheerios
$3.00 - A gallon of milk
$2.00 - 3 lbs bananas
$6.00 - a pound of ground beef
$4.00 - a bag of potatoes
$2.00 - a bunch of broccoli
$3.00 - a loaf of bread
$1.00 - hamburger buns

And I could get most of that even cheaper based on sales or where I shop.
So, anyone can take their EBT card and purchase filet mignon, prime rib, lobster, etc. at the grocery store, take it home and cook it, which is totally permissible according to the law / rules, but can't go out and buy chinese if they want because it's a hot meal already prepared by someone else? Does that really make sense?

-- Edited by Forever Sunshine on Sunday 10th of December 2017 10:12:50 PM

Yes, it does. I don't agree with not being able to buy a hot rotisserie chicken in the grocery store, but restaurants taking EBT is just another avenue of cost, regulation, and potential for fraud.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Forever Sunshine wrote:
Southern_Belle wrote:
Because the irresponsible people ruin that for others.
Hahaha yep, I get that's the reason, probably. Hence the reason I am against collective punishment for one person's screwups. Doesn't solve the problem some of us, without young, qualifying children, have in using EBT.

If it was only one person. You know how many kids go hungry b/c their parents use the EBT for things other than food already?

Forever Sunshine · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
Forever Sunshine wrote:
Southern_Belle wrote:
Because the irresponsible people ruin that for others.
Hahaha yep, I get that's the reason, probably. Hence the reason I am against collective punishment for one person's screwups. Doesn't solve the problem some of us, without young, qualifying children, have in using EBT.
If it was only one person. You know how many kids go hungry b/c their parents use the EBT for things other than food already?

Yes, I do. So, perhaps new rules need to be written qualifying usage of the card for singles, one child, two, three, young, old, etc.? A one-size fits all isn't acceptable, IMO.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

The point is, the statement was made that it can be cheaper to grab a sandwich out than to buy the ingredients and cook it at home. So the question is, if it's cheaper for someone not on food stamps, why is it not cheaper for someone that is?

There is a double standard.

Lindley · Guru

I still think it is cheaper in the long run to cook from home. Fast foods are not the healthiest foods to eat.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

lilyofcourse wrote:
The point is, the statement was made that it can be cheaper to grab a sandwich out than to buy the ingredients and cook it at home. So the question is, if it's cheaper for someone not on food stamps, why is it not cheaper for someone that is?

There is a double standard.

Not a double standard. Buying subs for a family of say 4 is much more expensive then for a single person. If a rule was put in place that one could use EBT for pizza joints, that family of 4 would pay more for take out than if they bought the ingredients in the grocery store. That is a waste of tax dollars. You know this!

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