AIBU to wonder how people afford this??

[Eurghhhhhhh]

I've been out tonight with some friends to the nearest major city. We went for some food and a few drinks, very relaxed, just spending time catching up. I've got home and realised that I've spent almost £50! I'm not skint my any means (although not near the Mumsnet 6 figures) but this feels a lot. How do people afford to do this multiple times a week?!

We don’t go out often because our children are quite young, one has autism so getting a babysitter is so hard because my son doesn’t settle with many people. We’ve a night in another city booked, our first “break” in 4 years. So far I’ve put £300 to one side but it’s a one off opportunity for us to be able to go out, enjoy a meal and a drink with just us two so I said we will make it a night out to remember. I wouldn’t be able to go out multiple times a week. Today we went to the park with the kids then for donuts an outlay of just under £30 in total. Some people have higher paid jobs and more disposable income, some have less things to pay out. Each persons circumstances are different. There’s people I know out all the time but they live at home with their parents so can afford to, others with kids I know who are out at weekends alone they have grandparents happy to babysit whilst they do so and earn a good wage

We went out last night, pate starter (DH), 2 x steaks, 1 coke and 1 pineapple juice.
The bill was £47.00 plus tip.
This was a pub.

Oh wow where do you live! In surrey double that at least for dinner and drinks. If I came home from night out having only spent £50 I would be amazed....

50 quid is the norm

Before kids I went out several times a week, usually spending between £40 and £100 a night. I usually spend about £70 and £100 on a night out now (no food) and it's probably once every couple of months.

Under £50 is not expensive!

I can't afford that muliple times a week.
In the last three weeks I've done Lunch out three times and paying for teen Dd along with myself have spent between £45 and £60 each time. Back to 6th form next week, they'll be no more eatng out for a long time. Dh and I are going out an about if the weather holds and taking packed lunches.

I went for for a quiet drink with my neighbour the other night. Wouldn’t class it as “going out”. 2 g&ts each. I paid. £32. Thought that was punchy. We didn’t eat so much as a crisp.

£50 for food and drinks would be a bargain where I live.

Not an unreasonable amount for a night out, but I don’t know anyone who is doing this any more than occasionally - particularly post Covid. Aside from the cost, I’d just not have the time or energy.

We went out for a meal and drinks and spent over £100 for 2 plus uber. I didn't enjoy it because all night I kept thinking we could feed a family for a month on that.
I prefer a nice home cooked meal and bottle of wine. Less guilt.

Me and DP do this, but we don’t have kids!

I read something on here years ago about you only see what people spend but not what they don't.

So you see them spending money on going out for meals, but not that they arent buying as many clothes as you, or have a sofa that cost half of yours and they keep it for a couple of years after you'd replace. You see them going on nights out but not notice they arent paying for childcare. You miss they their holiday cost £2k less than yours. Or they don't own pets, or they run only one car, or even they walk to work rather than drive /pay out for public transport.

And a lot of people assume someone with a similar sized house earns about the same as them.

I don't earn a lot by anyone's standards, but £50 a couple of times a week wouldn't make me wince.

I thought this thread was going to be about 60k cars and big holidays every few weeks.

£50 is cheap. I'm up North and £100 on a night out wouldn't be unusual

How do people afford to do this multiple times a week?!

Mostly credit cards and mounting debts...that's what most people live on. Thank god for the cards or holidays, eating out, etc would've been out of the question.

Doesn't matter if they do it once a week or multiples times a week.

@BastionsOfLowerMiddleClasses

How do people afford to do this multiple times a week?!

Mostly credit cards and mounting debts...that's what most people live on. Thank god for the cards or holidays, eating out, etc would've been out of the question.

Doesn't matter if they do it once a week or multiples times a week.

I do pretty sure in the uk most people have savings (something like 60%) so it's not true that most people are living on their credit cards.

(Now that may vary very much by age groups)

I'd spend £20 max on dinner and pudding. I don't drink alcohol or fizzy drinks only tap water no ice. A cheap date. Not impressed by tiny portions of unidentifiable food on large pieces of slate or sharing platters and I don't share bills equally.
£50 would not be out if my affordable range but I would baulk at paying that for any meal. Yes, I know drinks were in that tab.

You can always sign up for a Taste Card. They're free for 60 days atm and you get 50% off or 2 for 1 at a range of cafes and restaurants.

@ClaireEclair

We go out once a month. No children and both work full time. With dinner and cocktails we easily spend £100 each or more. Cocktails in London are the biggest rip off. They are now served in teeny tiny glasses and come with these long descriptions when really it’s just alcoholic fruit juice.

I noticed this in Liverpool on Friday night. Ordered a Margarita and it came in what appeared to be a sherry glass. Literally a mouthful for a tenner. As if drinks aren't expensive enough now without making them miniature!

No, most people don't live on credit cards. A minority do, but that's really not the norm and not how most people live.

The reality is more likely they earn more than you think they do, they are spending less in other areas of life than you, or a combination of both.

@BastionsOfLowerMiddleClasses

How do people afford to do this multiple times a week?!

Mostly credit cards and mounting debts...that's what most people live on. Thank god for the cards or holidays, eating out, etc would've been out of the question.

Doesn't matter if they do it once a week or multiples times a week.

Most people in your circle, that’s the most you can claim.

Certainly not ‘most people’ across the board.

I did that a few times a week when I was single, had no children and far more energy and cash than I do now. A night out these days wipes me out for days (3 day hangover anyone?) so now it's like maybe once a month making sure I have a lay in the next day.

We couldn't afford that so we might have a takeaway now and then

I imagine most people are spending money they have, not getting in debt.