Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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
Grapewrath · 15/04/2023 20:41

For 2 adults and two teens our takeaway curry is now £50. It used to be a lot cheaper. We used to get a takeaway fortnightly but we can’t afford it now- once every couple of months now if we’re lucky

KohlaParasaurus · 15/04/2023 20:42

Hardly ever, but I thought the £20 or so we spent on three dishes from the local Chinese restaurant to share between two of us a few weeks ago wasn't bad value compared to what we spend on coffee and a sandwich in a café when we've been out walking.

mindutopia · 15/04/2023 20:42

I couldn’t tell you when we last had a takeaway. It’s maybe 2-3 times a year. We have a very comfortable household income, but yes, it’s a waste of money for totally mediocre food. I’d rather cook myself or go out for a nice meal on occasion. Also it’s a good 40+ minute trip to collect anyway so a massive PITA.

Scottishskifun · 15/04/2023 20:42

We get a fish and chips once a month it's £20 for 4 of us but we get 2 kids portions and share a portion of chips.
Takeaways are a rarity now though definitely not once a week.

BluebellBlueballs · 15/04/2023 20:42

How can anyone afford anything? But yes, takeaway has shot up only an occasional treat for us now.

Some people still Earn loads and it's not a big deal for them.

Nattertatter03 · 15/04/2023 20:42

We had Chinese for four of us last night, £25

evtheria · 15/04/2023 20:43

We don't really, it's so much money we'd rather pay a bit more and just eat out.

00100001 · 15/04/2023 20:43

thefamous5 · 15/04/2023 20:36

@00100001

14 inch cheese and tomato pizza
12 inch bbq chicken pizza
Chicken burger
3 large portions of fries
Garlic bread pizza

  • they add a 1.5l bottle of Pepsi in as well for free

OR

Small fish and chips & mushy peas (kids portion but huge!)

Popcorn chicken and chips x 4

Kebab and chips

OR

Chinese takeaway of 3 portions of chow mein, Chinese curry and chips with rice x2

Indian works out a little more expensive, more like £40 but thats for 2 x chicken or prawn curries, potion of rice, portion of chips, 2 x garlic naan, and then 4 kids nugget meals

Oh, so when you say 6 people. You mean 2 adults and 4 kids?

I presumed you meant 6 adult portions

Bagpuss2022 · 15/04/2023 20:44

£75 for domino’s last Sunday for 4 and £28 for 3 (one child) kebabs
we have them weekly I cook from
scratch 6 days a week and we don’t go out or smoke it’s our little treat with a bottle of wine.
we have noticed the col but hasn’t impacted on our budget really yet

Axahooxa · 15/04/2023 20:44

It’s incredibly expensive with teenagers. They love it so I try to manage it a few times a year. Far cheaper than meals out (now they eat like adults and don’t have kids’ meals!)

Sudeko · 15/04/2023 20:45

As the main cook in my house, I demand to be excused from cooking duty a few times a week. I would never cook when we are overseas but then I am not happy with not cooking at all and desperate to be back in my kitchen aster a few days and nights of restaurant food and hotel buffet breakfasts.

JaneFondue · 15/04/2023 20:46

Nattertatter03 · 15/04/2023 20:42

We had Chinese for four of us last night, £25

I need to move out of London, clearly. More than double that here, for 4. But then I would have to drive to get my takeaway?

BertieBotts · 15/04/2023 20:46

A takeaway costs us around €40-50 if we get it delivered and for everyone (2 adults, 1 teenager, 2 toddlers)

It is more than a third of our weekly food shopping budget. We budget separately for takeaways/fast food - a max of €100 monthly though we are not always good at sticking to it.

We are more likely to go in to somewhere like McDonald's but still end up paying over €30 usually which is a lot Shock

DanceMonster · 15/04/2023 20:47

00100001 · 15/04/2023 20:40

Yes some can..but a lot can't. So they sacrifice somewhere else, because they're prioritising a takeaway over decent shoes/activities/holidays/clothes or whatever they deem less 'important'.

Show quote history

How many of these people do you know?

crazyaboutcats · 15/04/2023 20:48

Well many can't hence why the first thing families do on Rich House, Poor House is order one. Contrary to the stereotype it's the middle class/income ordering takeaways, not those on benifits or low wages, and even then more likely two income childless couples rather then families who order them regularly.

We are such a couple and either get one or eat out once a week, but if it's a curry or Chinese which are my favourites I always make my own rice and pick up rather then use apps

Oblomov23 · 15/04/2023 20:49

Cheap! Our curry or Chinese takeaway for 4 costs £50. That's why we only have it every few months.

Giggorata · 15/04/2023 20:49

We haven't got a lot of choice out here in the sticks, especially places that deliver.
We spent about £34 this last week, which included £4 delivery charge.
This was an an Indian meal for two, but I always have enough for a rewarmed brunch the following day, so it's essentially a meal for three.

OhmygodDont · 15/04/2023 20:49

We holiday buy the children the branded gear they want. Ok we don’t holiday abroad but that’s because I’m not dropping 3-5k for one week in august. I wouldn’t take them out of school for the sake of sunshine after a plane ride.

thefamous5 · 15/04/2023 20:50

@00100001

Pizza takeaway for 14 of us (7 adults and 7 children between ages 1-12) cos us just over £65 over Easter.

When my parents visit we can have a takeaway for 4 adults for around £25 delivered.

TheRookie · 15/04/2023 20:50

We had Indian tonight. 1 starter, 2 mains, chips, 2 naan, 2 poppadoms - FORTY SIX GREAT BRITISH POUNDS!! It wasnt even that good, I'm.really cross.

artishard · 15/04/2023 20:51

My last Chinese order... for 2 people 🙈

No judgement please guys 😂

To wonder how people can afford a takeaway for a family?
thefamous5 · 15/04/2023 20:51

@JaneFondue why would you have to drive?

TheRookie · 15/04/2023 20:51

LaMariposa · 15/04/2023 20:03

Fakeaway instead? DH has taught himself to make takeaway style Indian curry. Lots of blending of onions and a few other types of veg today to make the base, then he can make a variety of dishes.
To start with the results weren’t great but now he’s really go it sorted.
He’s also really good at a decent roast, and a few other meals.

We very occasionally have a takeaway, less than once a month. Too expensive.

Yep my DH too!!! Got the book for Xmas and he's not made something I haven't enjoyed. Always have that base sauce available in the freezer

1stTimeMama · 15/04/2023 20:52

The last time we had one from a local Indian it was around £60 for 7 of us, but I always find them a let down, and everyone prefers my cooking so we don't bother with take aways.

00100001 · 15/04/2023 20:52

DanceMonster · 15/04/2023 20:47

How many of these people do you know?

Show quote history

Plenty thanks.

Helping in a deprived area where kids are eating leftover take aways for lunch/talking about their KFC the other day/their second McDonald's that week etc whilst not having a decent winter coat/ in trousers too short/crappy shoes etc.

so yeah, unfortunately, some parents will prioritise take aways over other things that I feel are more important 🤷‍♀️