to think McDonalds is expensive?

[TingTradition]

I mean great for a quick, cheap on-the-move treat .

But you get a tiny bit of meat with your burger and unless you stuff yourself with chips and ice-cream on top, are hungry 30 minutes later.

I've just made a delicious huge burger for lunch at home, with lovely seedy bun and big salad, probably for less than £1. [NoMrWhippyThough ]

I remember when it was £2.88 for a meal deal & 20p for an ice cream, those were the days!

It's about £4.70 for a medium cheeseburger, medium fries and medium drink isn't it?

A cheeseburger is 99p, medium fries are £1.09 and a medium soft drink is 99p, so that would come to £3.07.

If you're talking about the Quarter Pounder meal that's £4.49 for a medium size (includes fries and drink; milkshakes and fancy coffees may add more to the price).

I don't think it's expensive at all, and I find it very filling. I work there and we get our lunches there free.

I don't have it every day but we work 9 hour shifts and when I do wat there I often don't feel hungry enough for tea when I get home!

I can't really answer for myself. Between being veggie, very fussy and not driving I pretty much never go to McDonald's.

However, I know an American friend of mine was very confused by McDonald's in the UK when she was here for an extended visit.

She said in the US people accept it's crap and not filling because it's dirt cheap but she couldn't understand why anyone would pay UK prices for it.

I'm a size 8 and normal have a large meal and extra nuggets and still hungry :(

£15 for a meal deal at McDonald's at (I think) Dalaman airport in Turkey. This was about 8 years ago.

I think that was the airport that I travelled through about four years ago. It wasn't just McDonalds, no matter which of several outlets you went to on the food court, food was unavailable at less than a cost of about £20 per meal. (I think Subway was another familiar option at unfamiliar prices. No I'm not paying £20 for a sandwich, I'd rather be hungry for several hours until I get home.)

I've just made a delicious huge burger for lunch at home, with lovely seedy bun and big salad, probably for less than £1.

Stealth boasting without the stealth!

I'm flabbergasted that anyone could eat a Big Mac and fries and not be absolutely stuffed for hours afterwards. I think a serious look at portion control is in order.

We're normally in Starbucks and spend 20-30 quid on food. McDonalds is around a tenner. Cheap (and not as good).

It's obviously personal taste but Starbucks food usually comes out way unhealthier than McD's and its still just pre packaged stuff, its not as though they pre make it all first thing in the morning.

I agree with others, everything can be made cheaper at home generally, but its not the point, nor is what you make at home a mcdonalds, if you see what i mean.

Of course it's not expensive, and of course you could make your own lunch for less. But people aren't always in a position to, or don't want to. And you actually need a lot more money in terms of being able to afford kitchen equipment, do a big shop etc, as well as appropriate cooking skills, to be in the position of making your own meals regularly. Bloody hell, Jamie Oliver has explained all this by now, surely?

Nor really. Ours is clean and it fills the dc's up. I only have a coke and chips though.

Mcdonalds do what they do very well. And I speak as an ex but still mainly veggie who shouldn't approve of them.

I'm stuffed after a McD's. I find it really filling. It the cheapest option around here for eating out too. You can't compare it to homemade though. If I wanted homemade burgers, I'd make homemade burgers, but McD's is just handy for when you're out and about.

YABVU.

It's way cheaper than most fast food

I live in an expensive part of the US and my DC have been to McDonald's just twice (out of desperation when we were stuck somewhere). They actually think it's a treat! Maybe the pricing is different here but it's $2.99 for a happy meal, so chicken nuggets, mini portion of chips, apple slices and a milk. The last time we went, they got a mini version of a popular children's book and some stickers. Given the cost of living here, that's a bloody bargain!

Maybe the pricing is different here but it's $2.99 for a happy meal, so chicken nuggets, mini portion of chips, apple slices and a milk.

It's £2.69 for a Happy Meal here and that includes main food item (nuggets, fish fingers, cheese/hamburger, or chicken wrap), a side (small fries or portion of fruit/veg), drink (any except McCafe drinks) and a toy.

*Disclaimer: any prices I mention on this thread apply to the franchise I work in Prices may vary!

There isn't a McDonalds anywhere near me, and it's not something I would generally go for - but I was recently in a city and we needed food and the only place nearby to get a meal was a supermarket with a McDonalds in it.

There were 3 of us, all adults. I was astonished at the price. I paid just over £10 for all three of us (it was something like £10.47). That's incredibly cheap! Who can honestly say that's expensive? If you want to compare it to home cooking prices, you need to factor in how much you would pay in time and electricity on top of the ingredients cost to make it equitable.

I might be able to buy 3 bacon rolls for that locally, but I certainly wouldn't be able to get 3 meals including drinks.

I am going to McDonald's tomorrow as a treat for my children (we have to be in town anyway). They will both have a happy meal, and I will get a milkshake n chips. I expect that will be £7-8. But that will fill them up - and it's a little treat, they haven't had it in ages.

We choose Wetherspoons usually as it's much cheaper for better quality meals.

It is much cheaper to eat at McDonald's in the USA and several other fast food chains, than buying groceries. Even if you shop at Aldi etc. It's crazy and explains a lot.

Maybe they aren't all the same, I'm amazed that anyone could think they serve generous portions.

I don't actually like the food there but on a rare occasion when they hasn't been any alternative I've had one of their meals and it's certainly not what I'd call a generous portion.

My local chip shop does a mini fish and chip meal for under £4 and you get much more food although no drink.

Burger King, KFC, Dominoes - all far more expensive. You get what you pay for in McDonalds.

I usually have a wrap of the day for £1.99!

I'm flabbergasted that anyone could eat a Big Mac and fries and not be absolutely stuffed for hours afterwards. I think a serious look at portion control is in order.

Well, it depends on the individual doesn't it? I am slim and a McDonalds would satisfy me. I am certainly not stuffed for hours after though and I have no issues with portion control and I get full pretty quickly.

My husband is big and active (healthy weight). He would still be hungry. My teens would be hungry not long after and they are thin as rakes and have no problem with portion control either.

Just because you are stuffed for hours on a McDonalds doesn't mean there is anything wrong with those who aren't. Perhaps they need more protein because they work out a lot or they are more active than you. Very dismissive to say that if people aren't stuffed like you they must have issues with portion control.

Bananamama, what Wetherpoons are you going to? Any I've been to, meals have been £6 or £7, with drinks on top. At least £10 in the airport.

Unless you are ordering one meal for all three of you, I can't see how they are 'much cheaper' than the £2.50ish per head you quoted for McDonalds...

That's how eating out works - I can make lasagne easily and cheaply, but one portion eating out can be £10