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

[Blameitonme7000]

I personally don’t but I know many do

No. I'm buying time. Free from thinking, cooking and clearing up.
Not too often as they're not always the healthiest.

I consider it a waste of money if you are struggling to make ends meet or saving up for something but if you can afford the occasional takeaway without affecting your finances then why not

We usually have a takeaway every 2-3 weeks

DH not currently participating coz he still has no taste/smell (post covid) so considers it a waste of money for himself but under normal circumstances he enjoys the occasional takeaway

@towers14

I consider Starbucks, Costa etc an outrageous waste of money. My 'poor' student child thinks nothing of spending £4.75 on a frappe!! I'm wtf? Why?

Ah see - I wince at £20 for a pizza.

But never doubt the value of a coffee shop coffee. Will happily get coffee often.

Greasy, cold and fattening, I actually think they poison me. Can’t eat them anymore, and yes they cost more than they’re worth.

But Waitrose Chinese or Thai for two in a bag - yeah!

We're lambing and I've got a bad back. We had Indian takeaway last night. It cheered us up and food was like manna from heaven. Plus we're supporting local business.
God I'm fed up with all these restrictions. The Puritans have taken over.

I think quite often the thought is much nicer than the actual food. I never regret spending money on food if done socially (pre covid of course), like ordering pizza when friends are over, or a meal when out. Often though if we order one for a weekend it does feel a bit of a waste of money afterward, so we dont tend to have them often and will often buy ready meals or the supermarket made pizzas as they tend to be just as nice!

It's not the best use of your money if you are struggling to pay bills or for the basics.

Beyond that, where do you draw the line? Takeaways are more expensive than making the food yourself but the same could be said for many things.
It would be cheaper to grow lettuce from seeds but I don't ! I cook from scratch most of the time but takeaways have made a nice break during lockdown.

It's not a waste but is a treat. Only when it is good takeaway though. Hard to find a good one.

We have the odd one with friends (pre covid) but not often as much cheaper to cook at home. I can control the calories and fat content if cooking myself.

I’d rather spend on experiences or items that will last.

From conversations with colleagues and posts on the net etc if always surprised at how many some have.

But "takeaway" isn't all the same food so why are people talking about it as if it is?

We live in a very suburban area and yes you can get the Chinese, Indian, fish and chips, pizza, burgers. But we can also get takeaway from the local Italian from their full menu, sushi, vegan food, noodles, mexican....

Anyway, it's not a waste of money in lockdown times. I am so DONE with giving headspace to thinking about what we're going to eat, shopping and cooking it that a takeaway is a blessed relief.

There is a recently opened place by us doing the best burgers I've ever had - proper, handmade burgers with steak mince. Last week they were doing a buy one get one free deal which was brilliant.

@Standrewsschool

Chinese - no, and cheaper than going out for a meal. Fish and chips - no Pizza - yes, takeaway pizzas are extortionate

Yeah. What is it with Doninoes et al?

We use a local Sicilian pizza and they charge around £8/9 for a really delicious fresh pizza. £20 for pizza is nuts.

I do love pizza though!

People should be able to use their disposable income to buy luxuries and things they enjoy as it is part of making life bearable (especially at the moment).

It's only a waste of money if it is stopping you from achieving some other important financial goal or it is meaning you are living beyond your means. A blanket view that it is always a waste of money is the sign of a rigid and judgemental mindset that is likely to indulge hypocritically in other "wastes of money".

Sadly I know someone who is like this about food and thinks even supermarket shopping is wasteful at times. Has their own allotment and grows a lot of their own, which is, on the face of it, admirable right? Yes, until you realise the amount of time and money they have sunk into that hobby (no kids, both have good incomes, spend thousands a year on allotment/gardening stuff and spend lots of weekends and evenings there). It really grates when I have to meet this individual socially and get a lecture on how I should be growing my own veg and I am "wasting money" at the supermarket. Lockdown has been a blessing in some respects.

One of the local pub restaurant places has really gone big on things that people can buy during lockdown.
Amazingly people are prepared to pay £10 for pizza dough that they then have to make themselves into their own pizza .

My mum is a bit like that @Eleganz - life is too short IMO.

@candylebonbon yes to be fair, despite my last comment, there are some takeaways that are utter rip offs and Domino's is one of them unless you have a special offer. Just find a good local pizza place. Saying that, my DP has got into making his own pizza at the moment, which is really good, but it does take ages to make the dough.

We can afford them and have been doing them fairly regular during lockdown as something to enjoy at the weekend, also the businesses we tend to get them from are small independent businesses so I do like to support them I lost my job during covid I got a new one quite quickly and like to put some of my disposable income back into local businesses. During 'normal times' probably end up in the chippy once a week but due to convenience. Do I see them as a waste of money? I suppose I do, but one I'm happy to spend on.

[quote Eleganz]@candylebonbon yes to be fair, despite my last comment, there are some takeaways that are utter rip offs and Domino's is one of them unless you have a special offer. Just find a good local pizza place. Saying that, my DP has got into making his own pizza at the moment, which is really good, but it does take ages to make the dough.[/quote]
That's the thing isn't it? You're paying for someone else time. I'm soooooo sick of feeding people. If I'm not cooking it I'm planning it. If I'm not planning it I'm buying it. If I'm not buying it I'm putting it away. It's fucking endless. 😭

My kids love Chinese, I have learnt how to make sweet and sour source - dead easy
I also make sesame seed chicken and noodles

And usual curries, some more successful than others!

My DD loves to make her own pizza - doh is easy in a bread maker

But we do love a take away as it saves cooking and clearing up!!

So both works

I am always disappointed by takeaways so do consider them a massive waste of money. I get the not having to cook aspect is great but if we feel like that then we have cheese and crackers or beans on toast.

@CandyLeBonBon

My mum is a bit like that *@Eleganz* - life is too short IMO.

Yeah, think I got triggered a bit by the topic!

It is all about time and spending it on what is important to you. I don't want to spend my weekends in back breaking toil so I can have a pantry full of homemade chutney thanks. I can well sympathise with people who would rather spend a Friday or Saturday night relaxing with a takeout after a week of work than cooking yet another dinner. Life is indeed too short.

That is not to say I am against allotments and grow your own. I think they are a great hobby, if you enjoy it and have the time. However most people I know who do it either don't have kids or are retired with adult children (with one exception, and she forces her kids into labouring on the plot!).

We get takeaway 2-3 times a week. Worth every penny 😋

My DP and I share a takeaway every few weeks. We get one main course, one rice, a portion of onion Bhajis and some poppadoms. Two meals is too much.

Due to Covid, I am making a conscious effort to get takeaway, as it helps support jobs, and helps stimulate the economy.

I was fortunate that my workplace did not suffer a shutdown (I work in essential services) and when cafes were open again, I started to buy my lunch and a drink each day.

Pizzas are ludicrously expensive imo! They're basically a lump of bread with a little bit of cheese and tomato on top.

@BluebellsGreenbells

My kids love Chinese, I have learnt how to make sweet and sour source - dead easy I also make sesame seed chicken and noodles

And usual curries, some more successful than others!

My DD loves to make her own pizza - doh is easy in a bread maker

But we do love a take away as it saves cooking and clearing up!!

So both works

With the pizza dough DP is instant that he uses the "correct" techniques after watch some Italian pizzaiolos on YouTube. It involves partially making the dough days in advance. Saying that the pizzas are really nice so can't complain.