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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

784 replies

MaknCheeese · 15/04/2023 19:51

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
annonymousmouseinyourhouse · 15/04/2023 21:56

@underneaththeash 3 burger meals, a happy meal, side salad and £4 delivery charge.

SophieinParis · 15/04/2023 21:57

Tbh all these seem super duper cheap!

Our Indian or Thai cost £50 for just me and DH. we order from a local restaurant that is fairly expensive though.

get it once a week.

RosesAndHellebores · 15/04/2023 21:57

The last time was about three years ago. Curry for 4 - £50.

I just don't see the point of spending that much and still having to wash up. I can do sirloin steak, crispy potatoes, mushrooms and salad for less and it takes only minutes and the same amount of washing up.

Haddock and chips is £12.95 per head here. The same as at one of our local pubs without the fag of collecting it, warming the plates and washing up. Or I can pan fry four fillets of salmon, steam some new potatoes and serve with asparagus and hollandaise for less than half the price.

RosesAndHellebores · 15/04/2023 21:58

I think people must have more money than sense.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 15/04/2023 21:59

@Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy - yes, we're very lucky!

Even our Chinese is about £20 for two people and it feeds us for two days Grin

CherryCokeFanatic · 15/04/2023 21:59

Klarna hun

GnomeDePlume · 15/04/2023 22:00

The only time we get takeaway pizza is if it is a big family gathering and then only if DD2 is around - pizza maths is her super power as she can whizz through the different deals and work out the best combinations to ensure we get the best deals!

Currently boycotting KFC as they always manage to miss something off the order.

neighboursmustliveon · 15/04/2023 22:02

We get a takeaway (usually pizza) every other week. It's gone up a lot in a year. It used to be £24 ish and now £34ish.

It is a lot but we budget for it.

Wisheverydaywasasaturday · 15/04/2023 22:02

00100001 · 15/04/2023 19:55

They probably can't. But see it as a cost of living and get in with it and don't spend as much on other things like shoes for their kids, so they're running round in shitty £12 trainers from ShoeZone that fall apart after 8 weeks.

Um I resent that, we can afford it and our kids have good quality shoes. Not everyone is struggling. Feel for those that are however.

Doyouthinktheyknow · 15/04/2023 22:03

When we buy a takeaway it feeds the 2 of us for at least 2 days at a cost of £30, so not terrible but not cheap!

We only do it every fortnight maximum and are more likely just to go out for occasional lunch to be honest. We used to eat out weekly, not anymore! That’s due to rising costs plus DH dropping income with retirement.

Stopsnowing · 15/04/2023 22:03

42 quid for three shish kebabs and salad and dips. Yesterday. Not doing that in a hurry again

BeyondMyWits · 15/04/2023 22:03

Our local takeaways are pretty awful. Everything over salted and swimming in greasy sauces. Both Chinese and Indian. Got fed up of luke warm pizza too. All expensive for second rate, disappointing food.

So we "fakeaway", Asda build your own pizza counter/M and S Chinese box for 2/Tesco finest tikka masala, 1/4 the price and fairly decent for something you just chuck in the oven.

WellPlaced · 15/04/2023 22:04

RosesAndHellebores · 15/04/2023 21:58

I think people must have more money than sense.

I suspect you spend money on things others wouldn’t

DanceMonster · 15/04/2023 22:05

RosesAndHellebores · 15/04/2023 21:58

I think people must have more money than sense.

Yeah that’s definitely my issue. So much money and so little sense.

Itakecreaminmycoffee · 15/04/2023 22:05

Indian takeout near us is £30 for two. When we get one the dcs tend to get dominoes and that's £40-£50 for 3 of them, so can be £80 for 5 of us to have takeout.

I don't find £30 for a takeout for 4 people shocking at all! You are paying for the privilege of not having to cook and if the 5 of us went out to our local Indian it would be at least £130.

redbigbananafeet · 15/04/2023 22:06

JeepersCreeperrs · 15/04/2023 21:02

McDonald’s. £15 for 4.

Adults or children?

SeasonsBleatings · 15/04/2023 22:07

We have a takeaway every three weeks or so. This week a Chinese for 5 was £45. We are decent earners and this is a valued regular treat for us.

Holly03 · 15/04/2023 22:09

We paid 20.00 for macdonalds for 3 of us but payday is only a couple of days away and to be honest I’m thinking about cutting back on these treats. It was a reward for my sons great behaviour whilst his sister took the full attention away for her extra curricular class

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 15/04/2023 22:11

£30 on a takeaway curry for 4 is extremely cheap!!

Indian is most expensive I find because curry, rice, naan bread, poppadom etc is all charged seperately. Chippy tea is cheapest.

MrsJBaptiste · 15/04/2023 22:11

We had a Chinese for 2 last night - £25
Curry for 3 last weekend - £50

We usually get a takeaway every weekend but it's generally cheaper during term time when DS1is away at Uni!

UndertheCedartree · 15/04/2023 22:11

We are going to have one next week for DS's birthday. Will be for 4 of us - expecting it to cost at least £40. It's a lot of money, but worth it for DS's birthday.

WellPlaced · 15/04/2023 22:13

DanceMonster · 15/04/2023 22:05

Yeah that’s definitely my issue. So much money and so little sense.

Show quote history

Please explain why getting a takeaway means you have so little sense ?

Ihatepainting · 15/04/2023 22:14

Op, I see threads like this often and I’m always bemused by it, it indicates the poster thinks everyone earns the Same. They do not. People afford it as they have more disposable income than you.

CremeEggQueen · 15/04/2023 22:14

Had a Chinese a few days ago, was £25 for three of us.
It's expensive, but we only do it every now and again

WeAreBorg · 15/04/2023 22:14

We never get them, they’re way too expensive! And there’s just too much packaging it stresses me out. And you have to wait for a person to come to your home and interact with them briefly and then feel awkward about it. And there’s still washing up. Aaargh!