To ask do you deem takeaways or meal outs as a waste of money

[Canwe666]

Ditto coffees out etc

No. Because you're paying for the experience, not just the food/drink.

And, of course, I can get a far better coffee out than I make at home Ditto pizza or curry takeaway.

No, they're a relaxing pleasure that someone else prepares and clears away leaving you the opportunity to enjoy the company of the person you're with (even if that's just yourself!)

It depends, when im skint yes definitely but if i have plenty of money at the time to do it, then no

It depends.
Some are. Just a coffee because it's there, or multiple takeaways because it's a habit.
But a social lunch out with friends, or a coffee to take into a difficult meeting - worth every penny for me.

Not at all. It’s mostly about the experience of being out, not having to do things yourself or having to cook something that suits everyone. One of my favourite ways to spend my money, especially going out to try different foods that I wouldn’t think to cook for myself.

Nope. Takeaways are a nice treat, particularly during lockdown! And I love a long meal out with friends/family. It’s my favourite socialising

No…but I will generally only go out or order in if it’s something better than I can make at home.

Depends on quality. Shitty takeaway pizza like dominos which I hate, yes. Nice pizza with interesting toppings in a lovely setting with good service and no washing up, yes.

Coffee can be but again on a sunny day a drink outside a nice cafe/coffee shop and watching the world go by is worth it vs a very nice coffee from our kitchen (though my husband does know his way around the espresso machine/milk steamer!)

It's about priorities for us. If I didn't have enough money to have a takeaway several times a month and go on holiday, I'd rather go away. Others prefer treats smattered across the year. Ditto some people won't be able to save for a deposit for years because they're enjoying youth and travel, constant socialising and nice things. That's fine too. I don't think there's a right or wrong answer.

No, we have a coffee out most days, takeaway once and eat out at least twice a week. I really enjoy not having to cook anything and having everything cleaned up afterwards.

Takeaways yes. I don't enjoy the experience or all the rubbish to dispose of and it's often quicker to cook something than it is to collect/have it delivered.

A coffee on the run habit is a waste IMO. Coffee with friends is money well spent.

A good restaurant meal with friends/family is a luxury for me and one of life's great pleasures, so not wasted. A lower end nasty chain restaurant meal because no one could be bothered to cook, feels like money wasted to me. It's still a lot of money for a family and the experience is always disappointing.

God no

And particularly not after this SHIT FUCKING YEAR

We bought a coffee machine to stop spending money on takeaway coffees and I do like the savings there as it's really easy to make coffee at home. We've saved a lot of money by just bringing our own coffee walks in our Keep Cups. I still love sitting in a cafe with a coffee, though.

Takeaway dinners though, I love! I love finishing work on a Friday evening and ordering food instead of having to cook. And going out to eat is one of my favourite things to do. I don't see things that bring me joy as a waste of money.

It depends.
If I go out for a coffee with a friend then I wouldn't consider it a waste of money, but I would consider me buying a takeout coffee every day to be a waste of money, which is why I don't do it.

We don't eat out or have lots of takeaways so doing either is a nice treat, but I'd consider getting a deliveroo through or eating out several times a week to be a waste of money.

No. Coffees and meals out are a valuable experience of sharing food and time with friends and family.

Takeaways make my life as a lone parent working full time easier sometimes so I am paying for the time it would have taken me to cook to free me up for other things. I have the disposable income to do that, so it’s not bad for my budget. And in this pandemic year, sometimes a takeaway coffee or food was the highlight of my day/week.

Absolutely not, I love eating out, whether it's somewhere posh or the local flaming grill, everything has a place.
Sure we could sit home eating lentils every night and save a few hundred a month, but to what end?

Nope! All these things make me happy. So essential to my life.

No, but they’re a treat rather than a necessity.

I’d probably consider a coffee every day as a bit of a waste of money because you don’t appreciate it if it’s always.

Am I alone in preferring a good quality ready meal to a takeaway?

I actually find waiting for the delivery quite stressful .

I find the quality of takeaways in the UK very poor and the price very expensive. I won't say they are a waste of money bcos who wants to cook daily, but I can cook most things better myself and do during the week.

Coffee I don't care about and tea is always worse than I make.

But meals with friends and family? I have memories that will last a lifetime. Well worth it.

Meals out, never a waste of money. I eat out on average once or twice a week with friends or dh or family and always enjoy it. Especially now!

Takeaways, sometimes. It often sounds better than it actually tastes and you don't get the whole restaurant and social experience. Sometimes I wish I just cooked something.

Coffees etc, I only stop for them when I really need or want to so not a waste of money. I think if I got them daily I might see it as a waste.

I travel a lot in the car so a nice coffee makes it more pleasurable.

Having just had a weekend in Edinburgh with lovely but expensive food I would say absolutely not a waste, however I’m a decent cook and would rather get a nice fillet from local butcher and make the sides for £15 per head than spend £25 in a crap pub on a shit piece of meat.

Yes but I still have them more than I should 😂

no - if you can afford them then life is too short