To ask if you view food such as takeaways as a waste of money

[Blameitonme7000]

I personally don’t but I know many do

In normal times we have takeaways rarely - a few times a year. Not so much because of the cost but more because they're generally less healthy than a home cooked meal. But in lockdown we had one a week and that was good for adding a bit of variety to our boring lockdown lives!

Yes I do..I don't really like them. They always seem loaded with salt..horrible.

Every now and then, a treat, Fish and chips yesterday, £6.50, for medium cod and chips, which DH and I share, and still cannot eat all the chips. Probably get berated on here for saying that, have done before, accused of "humble bragging",It isn't our "local" fish shop which is gross, and they are big portions. Occasionally Chinese or Indian take away, but postly home cooked from scratch

They are to me because I don't get that much enjoyment from them. I used to love takeaway sushi but it closed and I find everything else too salty - maybe I just haven't got good takeaways near me though? I was going to get one for my birthday and spent ages looking at different options and they were all really expensive for what they were.

Pre covid I did spend obscene amounts on takeaway coffees though so certainly no judgement here!

It's a treat. we only have one perhaps every couple of months.

last two have cost £20-30 for 4 of us, with usually enough or almost enough for 2nd meal leftover. I do tend to consider what is better value and two of us are veggie so we order very little meat.

Yes and no, an occasional treat is great but we know a family who eat out all the time then complain they have no money and are getting fat. I struggle to feel sorry for them when they eat out so much

We found some authentic Chinese and Thai and Indian delivery places.. our takeaways are normally between 20-25 , ( 2 ppl) and we also have leftovers for a full second meal . We never buy rice or roti , we make it.. I feel like when i send my husband to the supermarket he always spends 20-40 and has not much to show for it.. so the takeaways feel like good value

If you're struggling for money then yes. If you can easily afford it, no.

I tend to view it as a treat/emergency food. So when my son needed to be taken to a and e, I ordered pizza for my children at home. (With strict instructions to save 3 large slices for the son who went to hospital)

I try to cook from scratch where ever possible though.

Pre Covid a takeaway would be a very rare thing - only if building works affect kitchen use. I cook from scratch and long since decided that paying for sub standard food was a waste of money and the meal never lived up to the anticipated pleasure. Since Covid, a number of local pubs and restaurants have been doing take aways so there's been a much better quality choice. In the interests of supporting local restaurants we have had a few take aways and enjoyed them but definitely won't make it a regular habit. We could afford it but I do see it as a waste to spend so much on something I could cook at home for a lot less.

We've been getting a takeaway pretty much once a week during lockdown from a restaurant we go to once a week in normal times, more because we want the restaurant to still be there when we're allowed out into the wild again but tbh I don't really like takeaway - the food rarely travels well and I'd much rather eat in the restaurant. Takeaways certainly aren't a special treat for us and not something we'd do in normal circumstances

we only have them a few times a year! so they are a treat.

We have one as a treat once a month. I definitely don't see it as a waste. I think it's worth it to eat something tasty and hot that you haven't had to prep and cook.

I had grilled tandoori lamb and chicken last night and enjoyed every single morsel!

It depends if it is something I could make easily enough just as well at home.
A really good Thai or Indian, or from an amazing restaurant? Never a waste of money! Pizza, or bog standard restaurant meal, probably a waste.

Not really, particularly during lockdown when there's nowt else to treat yourself to.we've got into the habit of having an Indian takeaway on Saturday night - I have a chicken tikka starter and a veg side dish - whilst watching Jane Mcdonalds cruises programme.
Not something we would have done pre pandemic but there we go.

It generally costs about £25 for two - another £6.50 if I go out and get DS a KFC - although tonight as it's coming up to my birthday we've treated ourselves to a home delivery from one of our favourite restaurants however at £20 pp for 3 courses it's hardly breaking the bank.

I will find it difficult to go back to spending over £100 for a meal for two once restaurants are open and serving alcohol again ( Scotland) and to be honest we'll probably avoid doing much of that as our financial circumstances have changed since pre lockdown.

We just don’t have many takeaways near us that are any good. So they are expensive and a bit crap.

Couple of exceptions. The fish and chip shop is good but usually have that while sitting on beach.

I’d rather get a decent ready meal, the quality is better.

During lockdown the local restaurants have started doing take out and that is expensive but the quality is really good, so £60 last night on a 3 course dinner for 2 that was huge and beautifully done.

But I don’t want to spend £30 on some luke warm brightly coloured slop with indeterminate meat which is what our local takeouts do.

We could have it every night but it wouldn't be very healthy! So we have a treat Bangladeshi take away once in a while- 2/3 times a year.

A takeaway is an occasional treat to be enjoyed, especially since we can't eat out in pubs or restaurants at the moment.

Therefore not a waste of money, as it's cheaper than a restaurant meal too.

The only takeaway we ever get is Indian. It's better than anything I vcan cook (unless I spend hours) and everyone in the family likes different things so it makes sense.

We've started getting a takeaway a week and we take it in turns to choose. But some of them are really expensive.

We got pizza from the Inependent Italian pizza place it was lovely but £67!!!

Indian is about £60

Dh wanted Thai last week and it was going to be nearlt£80 so we got grilled chicken kebabs which work out about £35.

Fish and chips is £9.50 each for cod and chips.

Once thing go back to normal we will definitely cut back

We used to eat out a lot and now have takeaway about once or twice a month. It's a nice change

The never ending cycle of cooking, washing up. Meal planning etc. Sometimes I just can't be bothered

Only consider them a waste when they are awful! Spent £30 last night on an Indian takeaway whilst on holiday, and it was not good at all

No. We have 1 a month, Indian I finish in 1 sitting, Chinese I eat half and have the rest the next day

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We are exactly the same as you. They have been nice weekly treats through lockdown but as a family of 5 adults, they are pretty expensive.
I feel we have helped to keep the local economy going and therefore the money would be more "wasted" if we just left it sitting in an account.

We have takeaway as a household no more than once/month.I don’t think the cost is too bad as it does all get eaten! I would struggle to justify it as a weekly thing. We have homemade pizza every Friday instead.

The most expensive takeaways we’ve had this year have been from restaurants that are now running as a takeaway but the food was fantastic.