To wonder how people can afford a takeaway for a family?

[MaknCheeese]

We haven't had a takeaway for a while and I was thinking about ordering one for the family as a treat tonight. I decided not to once I worked out the price, I just couldn't justify paying 1/3 of my weekly groceries budget, £30 on a curry for 4.
When did you last have a takeaway?
How much did it cost and how many did it feed?

I simply cannot afford this even as a treat every once in a while. All takeaways are so expensive.

I am surprised by so many having a takeaway once a week although pre children eating at the same time with us we also did this.

Now I have 2 x DC's who eat big ish portions it's more like once a month at the max, probably more like every other month. I would expect to pay £40-50 here for the 4 of us usually Indian or Cambodian. We don't do it much as we like to cook or eat out instead. I think we are relatively well off but I just can't justify the added cost when I already spend £150 on food.

It’s not so much the money, just takeouts round our way are just not great. I’d rathe4 get a ready meal and at least I know it’s hot.

Family of 9, we get takeaway maybe once every 4-6 week, it's too expensive to get it more often but is nice to have a night off from cooking.

There are vast amounts of food trucks around our way. We tend to eat from those rather than your usual Indian/Chinese

We have an autistic child who can’t cope with meals out and no babysitters so takeaways are our food ‘treat’. We don’t tend to have pizza or kebabs, it’s usually something like Lebanese, Turkish, Mexican or Indian. We order from decent restaurants which also do takeaways rather than places that are just takeaways.

£90 curry for 9. Sadly a vanishingly rare event -bit of a tradition when the family visit - curry isn't a thing where they live

You must have read my mind OP as I was going to post something similar.

DH and I normally have 1 take away a week, but it's most definitely going to have to stop.

Last night 2 (shish) kebabs and a side of halloumi was £28.90

Curry week before was £35.

F&C is the worst: £19.90 just for the fish!

No such thing as a cheap take away nowadays.

We are a family of six and downs £25 on an Indian takeaway a week. I cook the rice at home and we order 3 curries. The younger kids just eat some type of freezer food though as they don’t like it. I don’t think it’s that expensive for a meal and sometimes there is enough for the next day.

@BelindaMelinda

The eldest child is 12 in the summer and wouldn't eat more than 2-3 slices.

I think a whole takeaway pizza that size for one person is, to be honest, slightly unnecessary (and I'm aware of how much teenage boys eat - I grew up with two of them!). Four of the adults are big men - we are talking 6ft + men and built like brick shithouses and 2-3 slices plus fries is enough for a meal.

I wouldn't be cooking portions that size if I was cooking at home, so I don't see the difference with a takeaway.

😲😲😲 that's a right bargain

We spent £48 on sushi for 2 this evening, I’ve been recovering from flu all week and this is the first thing I’ve wanted to eat except soup in days.

We have a decent high middle income and we have one every month as a treat but usually on on a week we’ve work mega hard and need a break from any cooking and clearing up.

But its difficult to generalise with stuff like this - we have a decent sized house we are doing up so money goes on that and we’d rather cut back on things like takeaways to pool money for whats important to us right now. I guess it depends how people choose to spend ‘spare’ income (I use that word lightly knowing everyone is stretched at the moment).

Got Chinese tonight., Beef curry, fried rice, salt and chilli chicken and salt and chilli chips for £23.90.. had or between two with leftovers but could've done it for all 4 of us.

My kids have Clarks shoes but have had had shoe-zone before and there's no shame in that! (That's to nasty shaming people... )

@JaneFondue

Chow mein with chicken in one, king prawns in another and beef in a third - not just plain chow mein. They also have veg in them (I despair at having to pick out the bean spirits for the one child!)

King prawn curry (chicken is even cheaper) and definitely not stingy with the prawns

It costs the same whether it is a king prawn curry or beef in oyster sauce, or duck in plum sauce.

@JaneFondue oh and we also get prawn crackers for free if spend more than £20.

We pay about £70 for four, but it’s a very fancy Indian restaurant and we do that maybe once or twice a year

I suppose it depends on how you manage money, partly. I tend to live very frugally in some places and do other things that matter to me more over being less frugal. I am not married, don't have kids or pets yet enjoy a good bottle of wine and takeaway and a decent holiday experience.

Chinese for 2 on Friday was 32.

Chinese last night £46 for 3

We have one at least once week (ashamed to say sometimes twice 😳)

Varies what we have and how much we spend. Usually £30-£50 for the four of us (two adults two teens).

It’s our weekly treat / night off. We don’t drink, smoke or really have hobbies (adults that is not kids). We have it in our weekly budget after our bills / food shop etc.

Only if we are on a day out at the beach we might pick DH up fish and chips. Kids and I usually pick something up from home or share a chip shop meal. I cook all our own Chinese and Indian food. Chinese is our favourite but the oil irritates DH and my stomach so it's better from home. I have however bought a Just Eat voucher to add in to his birthday. It's only for £20 though so looks like I might need to double that!!

Memories - When living in digs, friend and I would buy a main curry dish and cook our own rice. That saved us a lot.

We had a takeaway last Sunday.
King Prawn Thai Red Curry
King Prawn Curry
Egg fried rice
Roast duck and Pork fried rice
Prawn Crackers.
£28

I don't really have an opinion on how much others spend (it's all relative) but I object to spending £££ round here on disappointing takeaway - small portions, stingy ingredients compared to the description, lukewarm etc. I wish I lived in the land of generous takeaways 😁

The more exotic options are generally disappointing, basic and bland (sushi, poke bowls and so on).

I can see how it works out cheaper than a meal out if you're in an area of tasty takeaways 😋