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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:
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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'.

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?

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 🤷‍♀️