We've not had takeaway for a year!

[Horehound]

We (my husband and I) made a NY resolution to not have any takeaways for 2020 and we have managed!
Weirdly today is the first time I am absolutely craving takeaway and more specifically bombay aloo.

So...once we get to 1st Jan I expect we will go a bit crazy with takeaways to fill our boots and then calm down and just have them as a payday treat. (Previously we'd have one once maybe even twice a week :o )

Join me in a salivating thread of all things takeaway

I think after an Indian I would go for a fish supper, salt and vinegar on the chips oh and maybe a smoked sausage too!

I’m really impressed! What did you eat when you couldn’t be arsed?

We rarely have takeaway as there’s none nearby but we did have one from the local pub when they were open just for takeaways and then a catering van periodically arrives now and we’ve had one from there - both times me and daughter have shared fish and chips.

Eleven months since we had one of any description.

Well done! I haven't had one this week, that's good for me

Did you save loads of money? We have at least 1 a week and I’m trying to phase it out

Neither have I - but I didn't think it was an achievement. (There isn't anything particularly tempting nearby!)

Weird NY resolution! Not one for me.

We had our first since pre-lockdown this week (so 9 months). Was a delicious Turkish meal with lots of meats, salads, dips, bulgur wheat and flatbread. I definitely appreciate it more as a treat!

@ThroughThickAndThin01

Weird NY resolution! Not one for me.

Why is it weird?! Just because it’s “not for you”, doesn’t make it weird. Why comment at all?! OP, you will certainly enjoy them come January, fill your boots!

The last take away I had, or rather attempted to have, was October 6th 2018.
We live in the sticks but decided as we had come back from honeymoon we would order a pizza from the nearest town. Ordered online at 7pm for 8pm delivery. By 10pm no sign.
The short version of the story is that the phone lines just kept ringing and ringing. The pizza turned up at 10.20pm with a guy crying saying his boss was a bully and had ripped the phone lines out. About two minutes later another pizza guy from same company turned up with the order and started kicking off too.
As I say we are in the middle of nowhere so it was a bit bizarre. We just told them to keep the pizzas and leave us alone.
3 months it took me to get my money back from the pizza company who begin with a D.

@PeggyMoo on the days we couldn't be arsed we'd have pasta bake with chicken or sausage through it. Or even just poached eggs on toast or cheese on toast (that's almost a pizza, right?!)

@AuntieDolly I think we've saved hundreds maybe even into the 1k region. If we got a Chinese or Indian it's usually fall into the £30 bracket. Plus we live quite rural so £6 for delivery yeh I think we've saved a lot of money and I have definitely lost weight!

@ThroughThickAndThin01 well, it's bit really weird is it? A resolution to be healthier and save money... Give us one of yours.

@lovelydovey omg that sounds amazing. I love Turkish food! That'll be high on my list actually!

Ugh there's nothing worse @hashbrownsandwich. You mustve been starving!

Oh also forgot to say... It was actually really easy to do once we had both agreed and we just knew we couldn't have one.
I think my husband suggested one once but I remained strong and then the same happened vice versa and he said no. So we didn't faulter :)

I haven't bought takeaway in years as it just doesn't seem worth the expense. I tend to eat porridge if I can't even be bothered transferring something from freezer to oven.

I can't remember the last time we had one - probably 3 years ago! No one can ever find our house and to avoid cold food we just go and get it, which is very rare anyway.

Really wish we could do this. Local area is covered with fast food joints and takeaways and they are just so tempting. Cut down to one every 10 days or so. Will try to cut down further in the new year. Well done OP!

Are you allowed one of those extensive Indian/chinese ready meal boxes or is it cheating?

Good question @KindergartenKop. @Horehound did you also try to do “fakeaway” meals to recreate your favourites or swear it off entirely mentally?

I’m always surprised on here by how often people have takeaways. We probably have one a month but it feels decadent and induces morning after guilt so I can’t imagine having it more often

@PeggyMoo

I’m really impressed! What did you eat when you couldn’t be arsed?

I find shoving something in the oven easier and usually nicer than takeaway (we have to collect unless you want to wait an hour and/or pay £££s for the ones that deliver).

Plus if its a money saving exercise, your expectations are lower if its cost £5-10 for the two of you instead of £15-20+.

So we have crosta mollica pizza in the freezer (better than any pizza except the proper wood fired ones) or get curry from M&S or Waitrose. Or have instant noodles or oven beige.

@KindergartenKop and @JingsMahBucket over the year we did buy two of those meal boxes from Tesco...again we would have had these A lot more often but I do think because we said "no takeaways" we kinda did just write it off.
We didn't really see those boxes as cheating really because it's nowhere near as decadent/calorific/lazy as a takeaway.

We have had a lot of Thai Currys and home made chicken fried rice etc!

Before kids and when I lived in a city I was terrible for takeaways. There was so much choice and it was all so tempting!

Now I don't buy takeaways because I end up spending £40-£50 as there are five of us. Occasionally we get fish and chips as that's a bit cheaper.

I do fakeaways sometimes. Homemade crispy shredded beef is really good with homemade EFR. Bung in some M&S prawn toast, spring rolls etc on the side and it's nearly as good.

If we want a treat, I do steak. Even a high quality one from the butcher is cheaper than a takeaway. With fries, salad and red wine it's super quick and feels like restaurant food. We also have loaded hotdogs, with quality frankfurters, fried onions, sides etc. Also quick and feels a bit like a takeaway.

@Horehound
We didn't really see those boxes as cheating really because it's nowhere near as decadent/calorific/lazy as a takeaway.

Good point and they’re way cheaper too. Hrm. Meals from Cook are also a good option too.

I wish we had the willpower for this! We have one it two at the weekend usually Indian,Chinese or McDonalds

Funny you've mentioned steak @Beecham that is something we seem to be eaten a lot of instead of takeaways and actually they are very tasty and quick to cook!

@AriesTheRam two a week I think is a lot and we were the same albeit not every single week.
I think once you decide to do it, it just becomes the norm.

Well done, especially this year when takeaways were one of the few treats available.

We don't have many, mainly because the takeaways near us are not very good at all, we do have fish & chips perhaps once a month and the very occasional Chinese.