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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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
BlondieLady · 18/04/2023 14:41

How the F#*k do I unfollow this? 🤪

DanceMonster · 18/04/2023 15:20

BlondieLady · 18/04/2023 14:41

How the F#*k do I unfollow this? 🤪

You click ‘unwatch thread’. Really easy.

Ruesy · 18/04/2023 21:30

Had a Chinese tonight, paid £36 for 3 adults, collection, 4-5 a month on average.

FrumptyMumpty · 18/04/2023 22:16

Absolutely! So expensive per portion.

Although, if you buy per calories per person it would probably be much more reasonable.

fryanddry · 18/04/2023 22:27

Why are you “wondering” about what other people can afford

RobertaFirmino · 18/04/2023 22:48

I love a nice takeaway but I need to economise and have got our favourite Domino's, Indian, Thai and Chinese orders nailed at home (including sides). It helps to make triple quantities of pizza sauce and base, naan dough and Bombay aloo for the freezer. I'm lucky enough to live within walking distance of a Chinese supermarket and several Asian grocers though and that makes things easier and cheaper. I also grow my own bird's eye chillies, again they freeze really well.

00100001 · 19/04/2023 14:47

The problem with this is people are comparing apples to oranges.

Some people have regular takeaway and will have a small/normal sized meal, so let's say a couple share a rice, curry and naan.

But others see it as a time to feast and will order loads of food and expect leftovers etc.

I think the regulars and the occasional are two different beasts personally. We have takeaways maybe twice a year, and as such tend to order more...but if we ordered every week, it would probably be more modest.

Fansandblankets · 19/04/2023 14:52

It’s a boy of a strange question because everyone earns different amounts and has different amounts of outgoings 🤷

We have takeaway every Saturday, it’s around £40-50 for 5 of us. We don’t have big outgoings though and because we have a child with disabilities we rarely if ever go out.

Cantthinkof1rightnow · 19/04/2023 19:02

We only have takeaways very occasionally and they never live up to the expectation; so they're always a disappointment.

Takeaways are expensive here, and are only getting more so. I see them a a treat, and think if you're having them ecce well, they're no longer a treat.

We could afford to have them weekly, but I don't think it's worth the money. I'd rather eat out.

All meals for 2 adults + 2 older teens. No meals include rice within the meat dish. It must be purchased separately.

Chinese:

1 × Prawn toast to share £6.20
1 × seaweed £4.50
1 × King prawn with chilli (get 5 prawns max) £7.20
1× roast duck with plum sauce £8.00
1× sweet sour chicken balls (8) £6.50
1× crispy chilli beef £7.10
2× plain rice £8.00

Total = £47.50 plus £2 delivery charge

Indian: (rice is separate).

1 × (2) onion bhaji £4.50
1x chicken korma £9.00 ~5 sm. pieces of chicken
1× hydrabadi chicken £12.00
1 × King prawn curry £14.00
1 × lamb bengal £12.00
2 × pilau rice £8.40
2 × garlic Naan £9.00
1 × matar paneer £4.95
Total = £73.85 with free delivery

Kebab:

2 x chicken kebab (~5-6 pcs chicken each) £21.90
1 x large doner £12.00
1 × lamb shish £13.00 (~ 8 pcs lamb)
1 × large chips £4.50
Total = £ 51.40 collection only.

Pizza:

2 x 10 slice (large) pizzas with stuffed crust £38 (best offer) Inc delivery charge.
Total = £38

Chipshop:

1 x large chips £4.50
1 x battered sausage £3.90
2 × cod £22.00
1 × pukka pie £4.80
1 x mushy peas £2.40
Total = £37.60, but would be £48.50 for 4 x fish and chips with us all sharing 1 large chips.
To get cod + small chips each would cost £55 total for 4 ppl, which is ridiculous.

BluebellBlueballs · 19/04/2023 19:32

Those prices are mental

22 for 2 x cod?

Cantthinkof1rightnow · 19/04/2023 22:18

I know, it is ridiculous, but I'm in the SE, so I guess that explains it.
We had the cod recently, and although described as large, it's noticeably smaller than it used to be, even though the price has risen from £7.95 about a year or 2 ago.

Dingdong90 · 20/04/2023 00:17

Family of 4...usually under £20 for a takeaway but depends on what we order...Chinese tends to be more expensive than Indian or pizza

Jourdain11 · 20/04/2023 00:35

Cantthinkof1rightnow · 19/04/2023 22:18

I know, it is ridiculous, but I'm in the SE, so I guess that explains it.
We had the cod recently, and although described as large, it's noticeably smaller than it used to be, even though the price has risen from £7.95 about a year or 2 ago.

I'm in London and I think those prices are mental too! We have a chip shop (apparently the best chip shop in North London...) nearby and it's 10.95 for (huge) cod, including a giant portion of chips and a drink!

Badbudgeter · 20/04/2023 07:15

BluebellBlueballs · 19/04/2023 19:32

Those prices are mental

22 for 2 x cod?

It’s £10 for fish and chips in my local award winning chip shop. Scotland in a tourist spot. It’s not even a massive portion, it used to be bigger and cheaper. Inflation/ shrinkflation combo. It is nice though. A rare treat!

RosesAndHellebores · 20/04/2023 08:08

@Cantthinkof1rightnow I quite agree. We occasionally have fish and chips. Haddock and chips is £11.95 at our local fish and chip shop. It is very good though. A large is £13.95 and to be fair, a large is enough for DH and me.

whatkatydid2013 · 20/04/2023 08:46

VincentVaguer · 18/04/2023 10:49

it makes it a total waste of money if you could make it yourself or buy bits from the supermarket for 75% less - but I understand some people find making a curry a huge and exhausting undertaking so are happy to pay a premium for someone to do it for them.

This totally ignores fact with a takeaway it’s not just a curry. For 4 people it’s likely 2-3 different curries, some starters/veg side dishes, poppadom with a range of pickles, chutneys etc, fresh bread and often special rice vs standard steamed/boiled stuff.

I’ve made that kind of Indian meal for a group before and it took me about 4-5 hours over the course of a couple of days. Admittedly I was cooking for many more people but it’s disingenuous to suggest a single curry and rice is the same meal as an Indian takeaway.

00100001 · 20/04/2023 14:01

BluebellBlueballs · 19/04/2023 19:32

Those prices are mental

22 for 2 x cod?

Same sort price here. You're looking at c.£15 for a portion of fish and chips.

WellPlaced · 20/04/2023 23:42

Just coming back to respond about food trucks as I wasn’t aware they’re not a countrywide option.

I do believe they’re health regulated and certainly well run. They pop up in specific food parks and even pub car parks around here where you can take the food inside and grab a drink.

If you don’t have them in your area, you soon will have

VincentVaguer · 21/04/2023 07:37

whatkatydid2013 · 20/04/2023 08:46

This totally ignores fact with a takeaway it’s not just a curry. For 4 people it’s likely 2-3 different curries, some starters/veg side dishes, poppadom with a range of pickles, chutneys etc, fresh bread and often special rice vs standard steamed/boiled stuff.

I’ve made that kind of Indian meal for a group before and it took me about 4-5 hours over the course of a couple of days. Admittedly I was cooking for many more people but it’s disingenuous to suggest a single curry and rice is the same meal as an Indian takeaway.

4 - 5 days?! Wtaf. 😅

DanceMonster · 21/04/2023 07:57

VincentVaguer · 21/04/2023 07:37

4 - 5 days?! Wtaf. 😅

The post says 4-5 hours over a couple of days, not 4-5 days.

CherryCokeFanatic · 21/04/2023 08:06

You can pay for Deliveroo through klarna so can just pay off your cheeky takeaway in instalments even if it now costs a small fortune

CoalCraft · 21/04/2023 08:09

We get a takeaway 1-2 times a month at a cost of ~ £30 for two adults and a toddler. We only go out to eat maybe 3 times a year.

VincentVaguer · 21/04/2023 10:58

DanceMonster · 21/04/2023 07:57

The post says 4-5 hours over a couple of days, not 4-5 days.

So it does (early morning, no glasses). Thank god for that 😂

VincentVaguer · 21/04/2023 10:58

CherryCokeFanatic · 21/04/2023 08:06

You can pay for Deliveroo through klarna so can just pay off your cheeky takeaway in instalments even if it now costs a small fortune

And imagine the trouble people get into with that!

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