is going out for lunch/brunch once a week as a family too much?

[7999ghkk]

Guess same as everyone else trying to manage the coming cost of living rise o trying to budget ahead. We have two little kids and we regularly - once a week go out for lunch/brunch on a sunday. We dont get any other takeaways and although I do go out for dinner or drinks with friend once or twice a month - DH and I havent been out together on an evening since sept 2019 and he very rarely goes out. But going out for food with family has become our regular. Would you cut it out? Or keep it? It seems like an unnecessary extra but kids dont like ice cream or sweets so cant fob them off with that. How often do you go out to eat as a family.

I think if you can afford it and it's a nice family activity, why not? If you feel guilty, remember you're helping to keep the restaurant in business.

This is a how long is a piece of string question. Really depends on your income and expenses.

If you can afford it, I can't see any reason to stop.

Can you change it to going out for a picnic over the summer? Then you've got time to have a think about what happens when the weather gets colder again.

It’s only a problem if it’s a problem

I suppose only you know if you can afford it, but if you wanted to cut it out, how about explaining to the children you were hiking to let them choose a special meal a week instead? We used to have a weekly (ish) 'family feast' night, the children chose a country and we agreed dishes to cook from there...Italy, USA, France, Mexico, Japan..... it was fun and they loved it.

We probably only properly eat out as a family a few times a year, we're both professionals but watching our pennies, so for us that's a real treat. Plus having teens who order adult meals, it's at least £50/60/70 a go, so just too much.

If you can afford it, why not? It's a nice way to spend time together and it's much cheaper than some other days out, that's for sure.

Going, not hiking!

We do something similar, and it’s great!

for me, it’s not a massive cost for something that is fun and convenient.

but it is obviously unnecessary if money is tight.

Yanbu. It sounds like you have cut out a lot of extras already... and it is nice to have a tradition like this. Presumably you arent going somewhere that expensive? Maybe you can find somewhere that gives you loyalty points and get free coffees, or a cafe in a park so you can spend an age playing/feeding ducks.

If you are really counting pennies though, I suppose you could mix it up with a few picnics instead of properly eating out?

Depends on the rest of your budget and if you can afford it. There is a big difference from paying £20 at a premier inn for the 4 of you and you eat and drink all you want. Or £50 per adult and £25 per child at our local hotel for brunch. But again for some the latter might be in your budget.

Also what are you prepared to give up to continue the treat if it comes to it?

How much is it costing you? It would be a treat for us so we wouldn't do it weekly (we do a good picnic though!)

If its 4 of you is it about 40-50£? £200 a month? That's more than music lessons or swimming lessons or those kind of activities to put it in perspective. Or even horse riding lessons...

but if you're quite well off why not!

To answer your Q eating out is an occasion for us - certainly not a weekly thing! But we probably spend 200£ on both the kids activities!

Id rather spend it elsewhere I guess.

so in terms of costs i guess it usually does add up to £50 per week which is not massive but as someone else had pointed out that is more than my kids' hobbies for the week. Kids love it - spoilt sods. I think it feels a bit weird our household budget is just over 120k but we have a large mortgage and the rising interest rates on top of food prices have scared me a bit. DH doesnt see a problem but he never does.

How often does everyone else go out for food or have take aways per week?

I think it feels a bit weird our household budget is just over 120k

I'm sure you'll be fine, brunch or no brunch.

How often does everyone else go out for food or have take aways per week?

Usually eat out once and one takeaway. I can afford it, so why not.

For crying out loud. £120k? £50 a week. Waddya think?

If you can afford it, why not.

We eat out as a family a couple of time’s a week for dinner. We also go out for lunch as a couple once a week and dinner maybe once a month.

to those who say that 120 is loads yes it is but our mortgage is also 2.5k per month plus childcare on top so it doesn't feel like that much

i dont really understand the question.
we never did
never do
but if you can afford it why should it be unreasonable?

If your annual income is £120k, going out for a £50 family meal once a week is a drop in the ocean. I'd enjoy it whilst the kids are still happy to eat out with you.

There will come a point when all you'll get will be a disinterested eye roll.

Do you even know what you spend money on each month? Not meant as a dig, but you seem vaguely worried about eating out without really knowing whether you can afford it. When you earn a certain amount of money, some people stop budgeting.

Do a proper budget - I bet you can afford this weekly meal out together, but if you go through your finances, you'll actually know whether that's true or not, and you'll feel better. Most people who are scared about whether they can afford things are scared because they have no idea whether they can or not.

No matter how much or how little money you have, you'll always feel better knowing you're living within your means, as opposed to just hoping you are.

Ah yes on 120k I think you'll be fine and find many people on mn who do similar.
For many people on average salaries couldn't spend 2500£ a year on lunches !

i always find this type of question quite strange. How can anyone answer this, only you know how much disposable income you have and if you can afford a weekly brunch.

There will come a point when all you'll get will be a disinterested eye roll.

My kids still love it. If I say we’re not going out for dinner on our usual nights, as we have something else on, they look like I’ve wounded them.

We do this every week too. But as our combined salary is a third of yours this is definitely something we're cutting back on. If you can afford it and enjoy it then why stop.