Meet up groups etc costing loads of money?

[girlfriend44]

Am I the only one to think that all meet up groups seem to revolve around drinking and eating out and they are constant?

You wouldnt think there was a cost of living crisis all the time and the organisers are relentless in their suggestions? Constant we've arranged this all the time, they dont seem to pace it?
I havent joined any but im a member of a few and see it alot come up.

AIBU to think it would be good to have some cheap or free activities instead of everything revolving around the pub or cafes etc and maybe not so often.

What is a meet up group?

My circumstances lol. Most people who attend groups aren't super rich. Everyone is affected by bills and food going up unless you salary has increased a great deal.

Maybe the organisers can't think further than the pub and meals out etc.

Its all the time also.

Never heard of Meet up.

If you went to a few things ( say 1x per month)you could start suggesting different things to add to the list that they might not have thought of.
They may love going to the pub for food and drink and be looking for like minded souls. If that isn't you ,you don't have to go. They don't have to change what they do .
It takes time to organise things and to field messages from new people / established people who thought they could come but can't make it now. The organisers are volunteers. They are people, just like you, they just happen to have had the oomph to set the group up.
One of out local meetup groups is a curry appreciation society. They meet once a month and try a different restaurant each time. It says I their welcome blurb that everyone pays for what they eat. There is no bill splitting. If you want egg and chips/ a couple of starters but no main or to eat until you die you can do absolutely any of that. You could do the same in the group you are in " Oh I had a huge lunch at a work thing today and I'm still stuffed so I'm just going to have a starter and a glass of coke" Nobody will judge or even care.

Yes your circumstances… it’s clearly working for others or they would have become inactive or changed the activities.

You are ridiculous… start your own group and then you can plan the activities that suit you and others who want a low cost option. Or do you just want others to suffer along with you?

Everyone is affected by bills and food going up unless you salary has increased a great deal.

Not everyone is affected to the extent that it means they cannot afford a coffee, drink or meal out though.

The reality is if you want free or cheaper activities you need to organise them. If you can do it with this group then join a group geared around free activities like walking or gardening.

loads of people still go out drinking and to restaurants, im not sure what’s hard to understand about that? That other people CAN afford it

Everyone is affected by bills and food going up unless you salary has increased a great deal.

Yes, everyone is affected but not to the same extent.

Some people have enough of a cushion, even now, for the increases not to be too much of a problem. They can still afford regular meals out, trips to the pub, shopping trips etc.

There's no reason for others to curtail their spending for you. If you can't afford it or don't want to go, you're free to go and do something else.

Everybody is affected by the cost of living crisis and the gas bills etc unless you are super rich.

Everyone is affected, but not to the same extent - clearly, for example, the meet up organisers who are volunteering their time to organise events centred around things they enjoy are still able to afford their meals and drinks out. If the group activities don’t work for you, either offer to organise some lower cost activities or start your own group, don’t complain about what others choose to do with their time and money.

Simply not true.

I'm not "super rich" but I can still afford to go out for a coffee or meal fairly regularly if I wanted to.

Agree with the other posters who suggest OP organises the meet ups herself if she doesn’t like what currently happens. Everyone is busy and short of time OP.

Not only 'super rich' people can afford to spend money meeting up in pubs and cafes.

I always felt with these groups the expectation was you wouldn’t go to every meet. So there might be a meet a week but you’d only go to one. I’m sure some will be different though.

I'm far from super rich but between a bit of credit and the energy grant my gas, leccy and phone bill this month is £13. My tiny mortgage is fixed so I have money spare for socialising. I don't see what's hard to understand about that?

I don’t think you actually have to go to every event @girlfriend44 🤣

what a thing to get into a tizz over.

Go to the ones you want to, and can afford. Less frequently if budget dictates. Use the platform to set up meets that suit your budget.

And if you’re hoping to make friends, don’t throw accusations of rudeness at people making fair and good suggestions.

The cool thing about Meet Ups is that you can start one, join the organisation team and suggest alternative locations or set up your own group on, say, Nextdoor and meet where you like. You aren't locked in to attending unaffordable groups at all.

Are you deliberately ignoring what everyone has said? 🙈

Yes, everyone is affected but not to the same extent. So, our bills have gone up but at the same time we had a very decent cushion beforehand so we haven't actually needed to cut back on anything.

Everyone is affected to some degree, but there are plenty of people who had enough of a cushion before that they don't have to adjust their lifestyles much if at all.

And the odd coffee in a cafe isn't beyond most people's budgets.

Well its depend on the person isnt. I have a group of friends who likes to go out a lot. 2-3 days a week. We went to restaurant, pubs etc. we are professionals and have lots of disposable income. I know me and my friends are lucky. Meanwhile i also got friends who are ‘mum friends’. Kids same age and prefer to have playdate in the house. So its depends.

@girlfriend44 define super rich?.

i’m not super rich i think. But i still going out a lot.

"Maybe the organisers can't think further than the pub and meals out etc."
Wow
Are you in these groups to try and make friends OP?

"Maybe the organisers can't think further than the pub and meals out etc."

DH and I are both involved in various community activities as "organisers" and comments like this piss us off no end. You know they're volunteers, right? As "organisers" we have stepped up to run something because we think it has community value and we do it as best we can. We'd love to hear constructive suggestions and new ideas from people who are also involved in our groups. But rudeness from people who expect us to do it all for them while they benefit from our time and efforts, not so much....

Start your own group. I did when I couldn't find a group that was a good fit. It costs money to host on the Meetup site though, so most groups charge a small attendance fee to cover costs. It also takes effort OP, quite a lot of effort, so perhaps appreciate what goes in to being an organiser.

My group does a mix of stuff that costs money or is free. This week there's a walk, a theatre trip and a recital. And we're men free! 😄

I agree OP. But everyone here is backing because it's partly the generation we live in and going for coffee and to a restaurant is a social thing.

90s kid here and the days of cooking at home and having friends round isn't as popular but then I dont remember food being blogged over insta back then.