How often do you buy take away food?
Posted by Various_Extreme_8773@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 160 comments
I was born early 70s and my mum was a fantastic cook. I think I was 18 before I even tried a KFC and I found it so greecy and disgusting.
So up until around 97 apart from the chippy one Friday a month I never ordered takeaways, I left home at 25 and that's when it started.
I looked at my bank statement and on average we are spending £350 a month in Uber eats. Only me and my Mrs as don't have children but my Mrs won't cook.lol. if we don't have a takeaway she can live off cereals.
I cook when I can but it's basic like spag bol etc.
Just wondering are we the norm these days or does you or your wife cook a good meal everyday?.
JobAnxious2005@reddit
Once every 6 weeks or so for us.
£350 per month is mind blowing. How healthy and active are you both?!
questions4all-2022@reddit
I mean, two basic burgers at our local burger joint will set you back £45, Cheapest Pizza is £30, Curry is roughly £20 for 2 curries/rice/naan. That's the BARE minimum not including extras or drinks.
£350 could easily be 3 times a week easy.
That said, I couldn't do it, I only get a pizza every two weeks to keep the kiddo happy.
Maleficent_Public_11@reddit
Where do you live that a takeaway burger is £22.50? Is that from a restaurant that does takeaway? And a £30 pizza? I am struggling to believe it please enlighten me
questions4all-2022@reddit
You have to include delivery + service charge and what ever bull they decide to add.
The burger itself is £15.99, then there's .20p bag fee, then £5 delivery and service charge of £1.50 (For 2 burgers that's almost £40+)
If you order to collect you'd only be paying £15.99. but Uber/just eat add stupid charges.
Same with the Pizza, £11.99 each (we get two) and the rest is all the extra nonsense.
Maleficent_Public_11@reddit
I see. I feel like you’re misrepresenting it a little bit in the way you worded it but not necessarily in bad faith!
A £16 burger is definitely taking the piss though. There must be somewhere cheaper locally.
questions4all-2022@reddit
To be fair the burgers are pretty stacked and you get loads of chips. Have a look:
I know it sounds disingenuous but they really do add nonsense, McDonald's has up to £3 service charge.
FunkyYoghurt@reddit
I'm glad I don't live where you do. Those prices are not normal.
Environmental_Base_3@reddit
Where do you live that 2 curries is £20.... here curries with rice and 1 portion of bahjis is £40!!
questions4all-2022@reddit
Our local Indian is pretty good, £8 curry, £2.50 rice/naan.
But you don't get much.
To be fair I didn't add delivery that would make it more like £25.
Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)
Don't ask. I work from home so got lazy, I admit it.
horny-tory-mp@reddit
If anything that's even worse
Over-Language2599@reddit
Probably not even that often here. Usually when I need to replace a plastic food container...
doc1442@reddit
What the fuck is this post. It’s 2026. It’s not solely your wife’s job to cook. You also have the sub of human knowledge right there at your fingertips, and it is easier than ever to find a recipe and follow it. It won’t make you a professional chef, but will give you a mixed diet of basic meals beyond ‘spag bol’.
But to answer your question: like once a month, max, as a treat. Otherwise I take turns to cook with my partner, so we each cook thrice per week, making enough leftovers for the other day and lunches.
FYI it’s spelled “greasy”.
Vochey88@reddit
It says he cooks occasionally but his wife doesn't at all
doc1442@reddit
Yet the tone of the post is that he expects her to
DoctorWhofan789eywim@reddit
I don't want to insult your Mrs but I can't respect any grown adult who doesn't cook.
doc1442@reddit
That includes OP, just to get past the rampant sexism
MoistPossibility3446@reddit
If a man goes to work then the women should be cooking for the family, it applies the other way round as well.
doc1442@reddit
Its 2026 not 1956
NecroVelcro@reddit
One man with "women"? Do you think that a man should have a harem?
MoistPossibility3446@reddit
I obviously meant woman it’s just a typo
Ok_Translator76@reddit
His post doesn't say anything about her not working.
MoistPossibility3446@reddit
I know, I’m just saying.
FelisCantabrigiensis@reddit
The OP at least tries to cook.
Icy_Mixture1482@reddit
Hmm, I moved to an East Asian country 10 years ago.
No one cooks here, it’s all restaurants or takeaways because it’s so much cheaper than groceries. I haven’t even lived in an apartment with a kitchen all the time I’ve been here.
The only people I know with flats with a kitchen are those who specially seek them out because they like to cook.
I’m afraid I’ve forgotten to cook, which is one reason I’m apprehensive about ever moving back to the UK!
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
The US is similar in this regard - fast food is dirt cheap but groceries are relatively expensive in comparison.
It is mostly not the same in the UK, though there are exceptions like indy fried chicken places. Outside of large towns or cities though, it can be hard to find cheap fast food.
Whereas yeah when I spent a month working in Singapore I did some mental maths and decided eating out was the way forwards. Though it's decent ingredients, cooked fresh to order, by people who care a bit about the cuisine, whereas our fast food scene here is both expensive and not usually great quality.
Icy_Mixture1482@reddit
Yeah exactly. I guess it’s economies of scale. Here, businesses don’t really have high taxes, start up costs, etc so they can mass produce high quality food for relatively cheap.
I wasn’t just referring to fast food. Even a standard pasta restaurant will be £5-8 per person for a set. But yeah, a large McDonald’s meal (burger, large fries, large drink) is ~£4.50.
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
Yeah sorry I didn't mean just fast food either. When I was working in Singapore it was completely normal for most people in the office to go out for a sit down meal. Then you'd pick up a meal on the way out of work to eat at home.
In some ways I like this because it encourages people to leave their desk to eat. In the UK it's pretty common to see people eating food at their desk and sometimes they won't even stop working while they eat.
I had similar experiences working in Mumbai that office workers at least would regularly eat out or get tiffin service. I'm sure there's a class divide though of course.
In the UK, eating out every lunch and every dinner would cost an absolute fortune, whether it was a sit down service or fast food.
Icy_Mixture1482@reddit
Totally. Same here, we all just head out for lunch and there’s a nice selection of restaurants since we’re fairly central.
In the UK, we could sometimes expense lunch for some reason that I forget now, and that’d be the only time I’d eat out. Or sometimes a cheap Greggs if I wasn’t too hungry.
It seems like Uber Eats works differently here too. There’s no option to tip. When I was visiting the UK last year, I remember I had to enter a tip before clicking the order button, so maybe couriers refuse the orders with stingy tips?
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
In the UK the tip isn't seen until an order has been delivered.
But yeah, it's strange here because most people are trying to resist tipping culture but a lot of restaurant owners in cities are trying to force it by including optional service charges on bills which they know overly polite British people won't ask to remove even though they're entitled to.
I'd rather just pay staff a fair wage, and tip for service which goes above and beyond.
West_Yorkshire@reddit
There's a different between won't cook, and doesn't know how. I know in school they used to do 1 day a week cooking class, but it really should be in education more.
It's probably half the reason there is an obesity crisis. Don't know how to cook, buy pre-made ready meals, get hungry again because it has basically 0 nutritional value, repeat.
Splodge89@reddit
Agreed. I used to think it was just lazy on the parents - my parents and grandparents taught me the basics of how to cook. I now cook things my parents wouldn’t even consider eating - but their teachings have me the confidence.
Now, I fear it’s not lazy parents, we’re generations on from that now - we now have parents who genuinely don’t know how themselves so can’t even teach their kids the basics.
GeminiCheese@reddit
It is still lazy. I learned very basic stuff at home, but mostly learnt from watching videos on YouTube. People have the greatest resource in the world at their fingertips but woukd rather just not put in any effort. My grammar school had no cookery as it was considered beneath us.
FunkyYoghurt@reddit
Yeah my parents never taught me to cook. I'm self-taught.
FunkyYoghurt@reddit
I don't know if it's changed but I learned zero cooking skills in cooking at school. All we did was bake cookies and flapjacks.
Splodge89@reddit
Agreed. And if it’s because it’s too much effort - not everything has to be a sunday lunch with all the trimmings. It blows my mind these people won’t boil a pan of pasta and stick some sauce on it - you don’t even have to make the sauce!
GeminiCheese@reddit
I did a basic roast yesterday and I must have spent 30 minutes in the kitchen total.
Rubbed some oil and spices on a pork loin, chucked it in the slow cooker whilst making brunch.
Cut a packet of salad potatoes in half. Tossed them in oil, harissa, and garlic salt. In the oven.
Put peas, carrots and broccoli in the steamer.
Chucked the pork in the oven for 15 minutes to crisp up a bit.
Boiled the kettle for some bisto for the kids, and used the pork juices to make a quick gravy for the adults.
If I do a chicken I just chuck it all in the same roasting tray. I'll do those on a school night after I get home from work often enough. There are millions of recipes where you just chuck a load of stuff in one tray. With access to the internet, not being able to cook a meal for your family is just criminal.
ScientistJo@reddit
It says she won't cook, not can't. OK if you've got the money, I suppose.
LucyMckonkey@reddit
Agree, there are so many easy recipes online. I think it’s lazy, it’s a chore that’s easy to opt out of.
Capable-Bake-6750@reddit
Once every 2 months or so, £20 a time. £350 a month is a bit mad, £4k a year, you could put that towards a good holiday or put it into a S&S ISA or your pension and have a tidy sum of money in years to come.
FunkyYoghurt@reddit
Once or twice a month if I'm off work for a couple of days in a row (It's hard-wired that take-away is for the weekend and I could never order one if I'm in work the next day). Usually I go for an Indian.
babylawyer86@reddit
I can cook - my mother instilled it in me from an early age, but I still spend a SHOCKING amount of Uber eats/Deliveroo - mostly because it quick, easy and can try cuisines from around the world
Question.... Society has changed soooo much since your mother's generation. The kitchen is no longer seen as a space for women only. What stopping you from learning how to cook more than a basic spag bol??
Maybe give your mum a call and ask her to talk you through how to cook your childhood favourites?!
Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)
If only heaven had a telephone.
But you are right, I'm going to learn, never too late right.
FelisCantabrigiensis@reddit
Heaven may not have a telephone but Delia Smith and Mary Berry's recipes are easy to find on earth and they are very reliable for someone without much experience of cooking.
Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)
I will check it out. Thank you.
FelisCantabrigiensis@reddit
Here's one to try that's a pasta dish: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/amalfi_chicken_orzo_65081
This one's not as hard as it looks. It's really good. https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/mary-berry-rather-special-chicken-and-herb-casserole/
You can use boneless chicken thighs (use about 600g) if you don't want to deal with bones, but do use chicken thigh because breast cooks too fast and dries out. Bonus: thigh is much cheaper than breast.
Take a look around https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/search?chefs=mary_berry&courses=main_course,light_meals_and_snacks and try one out - pick something that looks familiar to you to start with.
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
Once a month as a payday treat.
Occasionally when I'm on a long drive I'll stop at services for food but not often. I prefer to take my own grub in the car if I can.
london_10ten@reddit
£350 a month is absolutely wild.
Logical_Yogurt5146@reddit
We get takeaways maybe once a month max, more likely once every 6 weeks
I cook a lot of the meals but they’re nothing difficult. A piece of fish and salad, toastie and salad, we have salad with whatever a lot of nights of the week. Fajitas are easy and have veg (we add courgettes, peppers and onions). We have stir fry once a week. My partner will make pizzas from scratch or a really good curry. Even boiling some tortellini and having salad is easy/cheap enough
gremilym@reddit
2 maybe 3 times a month. Not in the multiple hundreds of pounds spent, that's madness.
Why are you waiting for your wife to do the cooking? You want her to be your mommy? Learn to cook.
Fudge_is_1337@reddit
He doesn't really say he's waiting for her to cook - he says she's not a cooker, and he's not much of one.
Agree that they should both learn, but I didn't get the impression he was sitting and expecting her to do all the work
gremilym@reddit
"My Mrs won't cook" and "does your wife cook you a meal every day" definitely suggest he thinks the onus is on his wife to be responsible for cooking.
They both ought to learn to cook, but his wife isn't the one here conplaining about it!
Fudge_is_1337@reddit
The earlier instance of "My Mrs won't cook" is followed immediately by "I cook when I can but its basic": this isn't a problem he's pushing onto his partner solely, but a problem that they have as a unit
The last sentence doesn't say "does your wife cook you a meal every day".
I read it the same way initially and had a similar reaction, but it doesn't actually say that
It says "does you or your wife"
gremilym@reddit
Ah, I take it back - I misread that final sentence in haste. Thanks for pointing it out.
In that case, I remain with my second response, which is they both need to learn to cook!
buy_me_a_pint@reddit
A takeaway is a teat, as we can cook better at home.
Sea_Pomegranate8229@reddit
64M. I don't buy takeaways except perhaps a couple of times a year if I find myself out somewhere and hungry.
spoo4brains@reddit
My mum was a fantastic cook and I learned to cook as a kid. That set me up for life to be able to make healthy and tasty food and save loads of money. I very rarely have takeaway, especially as it has doubled in price in recent years.
ApexChaser1@reddit
Once a week average I'd say, max £100 a month. Recently on a health kick so watching what I eat.
It really doesnt take much to cook a healthy meal. Airfryer really helps. Stick some chicken in one drawer, some diced and seasoned potatoes in another. Done and dusted in 30 minutes.
ResponsibilityOld372@reddit
Same, our weekly takeaway comes out about £60 a month. I'd be lazy half the week and eat frozen cooked meals the rest. Cooking isn't really a skill, it just takes willingness.
alferret@reddit
I like to think I'm a reasonably good home cook and as my wife is disabled I get to cook everything. We probably have a takeaway once a week. Fish and chips, Indian, Chinese etc. It all depends on how bolloxed I am considering I also work 40hrs and all the housework chores are mine as well.
Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)
Nice one. Topman.
mrsilver76@reddit
I’m not going to judge, but you can cut that bill simply by ordering direct from the takeaway (and use their own delivery service) rather than using Uber Eats.
nerdztech@reddit
When I checked last year I spent about £600 on takeaways and I was shocked how much it can add up over time so this year I have cut right down only had about 4 takeaways total so far and probably won't get one for another month just as an occasional treat. I don't have a partner but I cook every day, not sure if it's the norm but with the cost of living these days I can imagine most people will be cutting down on the takeaways. I can't imagine spending around £4,000 a year on takeaways alone but you do you lol.
musicallymotivated93@reddit
Extremely rarely. Last time I bought a takeaway was on Christmas Eve, and the only reason I did was because my plans changed (mum's birthday, parents both came down with the flu, didn't fancy fighting my way through the hordes of morons in big Tesco). If I do want something, I just ask one of my sisters if there's any spare bags of chips at the end of her shifts. They get frozen and I get 4 or 5 portions out of them.
Cool_Doubt2152@reddit
Some months we have takeaway once a week, sometimes it’s once every other week.
We used to eat out a lot at weekends but then had a baby so this sometimes replaces that as we often order from restaurants via Deliveroo etc and have a night in instead
£350 a month is nuts, but if you can afford it then you do you. I would question how healthy it is depending on where you order from because you’ve got no control over what is going into your body & how much of it is processed food, which on the regular cannot be good for you. At £350 a month I’d probably just sign up to a decent food subscription service, Mindful Chef etc, that gives you the recipes and measures all the ingredients out for you so you hardly need to do any prep, and split the cooking between you.
artfuldodger128@reddit
That's just the take-aways. What about your restaurant sit-down meals outside?
Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)
Not been to a restaurant in years unfortunately
Prudent-Pressure2146@reddit
Knock off 100 a month of your uber eats send and that’s a lovely date night, easy
HuntersLiberalDong@reddit
I am extremely happy I've never downloaded Uber eats or just eat. I know I would fall in to the trap of using it too often and wasting money. I'm on a tight budget and that amount of money every month would blow a massive hole in it.
As it is I order from the local Indian a couple of times a year and keep extra spending for hobbies.
Beautiful-Concept383@reddit
Oo what extra hobbies? Like ski gear? Collection of guitars? Lol
HuntersLiberalDong@reddit
Just the two guitars 😂 still in the early stages. Main hobby is painting Warhammer, notoriously expensive hobby but it doesn't have to be and the cost/time ratio is pretty good. Usually paint about 3-4 hours a day. Couldn't guess what I spend on it but it's a fraction of what some people spend on Uber eats so I don't feel too bad.
Beautiful-Concept383@reddit
Yeah it's so nice to have hobbies and most people hardly have any. Definitely better than waiting around for an uber eats/deliveroo. I'm gonna try and pick up some more now
SCWeak@reddit
Usually once per week and eat out once per week. Sometimes weeks not at all and other weeks might be twice, so average of once per week for a takeaway and once per week for eating out.
Doragan@reddit
Once every couple of months or so, although when we order a takeaway it always does at least two meals for us. We eat out more than we get a takeaway, but it's something we particularly enjoy doing
Asher-D@reddit
Two times a week? I usually eat out once every time I'm off from work.
Own_Glove845@reddit
We don't have takeaway meals. All our meals are cooked fresh. Sometimes doing a simple meal with mince and a load of vegetables in a big pan will stretch to at least 2 meals for both of us.
We hardly ever have frozen meals either. That could be an option for OP if cooking is really that much of a chore. There must be some healthier options out there, particularly for people who are watching their weight.
Ezekiiel@reddit
How can your Mrs be a grown adult and not be capable of cooking? That’s embarrassing.
Various_Extreme_8773@reddit (OP)
I'm as much to blame.
Warm-Marsupial8912@reddit
2-3 times a year. Would you use a recipe box subscription? At least they are proper ingredients rather than deep fried crap, and cheaper
NormasCherryPie@reddit
5-10 times a year max. And then only for collection. I’d rather go out for dinner than get a takeaway and cook from scratch almost every day.
Uber eats looks like an expensive habit.
cc_worker@reddit
Last year I kept a spreadsheet and had 66 at a cost of £954.
I have had three this year so far, due to getting gift cards for two of them, I have spent £14.45
LikeEveryoneSheKnows@reddit
Maybe once every few months. Problem for us is that where we live there is no delivery service and the takeaways are an hour round trip 😅 We often get pop up trailers doing pizza or mexican but you have to know when they are out. So cooking is always faster. And there are more options than ever in terms of lovely recipes and where to find them.
Plus I couldn't justify spending that much on carryout, but you do you, all our finances are different after all.
Spanner1993@reddit
In my 20s, 90% of my diet was fast food. Now in my 30s with kids, luck if we get pizza or a curry once a week.
Its hugely down to lifestyle, no kids and disposable income gives you the option to be lazy about food choices.
Ready-Fox-3264@reddit
I almost never have takeaway food. I don’t even have any of the apps on my phone.
When I’m in the office, which is twice a week, I buy lunch there, or I’d do it when I’m out and about on weekends, but this isn’t takeaway in the traditional sense. I go to a restaurant maybe twice a month.
The rest of the time I plan my meals and cook as I’d like to keep ultraprocessed food to a minimum.
Madamemercury1993@reddit
I hadn’t realised how bad it had gotten when we were in a car dealership last year realising our 10 year old mini was fucked and couldn’t afford to fix it. We also didn’t have any savings and didn’t know how we’d pay for a financed car.
I sat and went through our online banking and almost threw up. Something like £450 a month with takeaways and work lunches.
Cut it dead. Pay £200 a month on the new car. And it’s a lovely (4 year old) car. Now have savings. Modest but there’s a bit adding up each month.
Rather than relying on takeaways for the last week of the month because we are exhausted from work deadlines I now double batch a couple meals a week and freeze them so for the last week we spend nothing on groceries or takeout. Then on payday we get one nice meal. Whether that’s a takeout, pub, or a more luxury home cooked meal.
It’s easy to fall in the trap when we all work so much and just don’t have the mental energy to think of meals let alone prep and make them.
Jazzlike_Simple_5576@reddit
Honestly im a shit cook, luckily my partner loves cooking, but on days we're working we buy good quality ready meals, taste the difference or Charlie Bighams, more expensive than most, but way cheaper than takeaway, which is often disappointing
peppermint_aero@reddit
£350 a month, for two people... assuming £50 per order (depending on where in the country you are) that's about 7 takeaways a month, or two a week. Does that sound accurate to you, OP?
It might be worth tracking when you get tempted to order takeaway. Is it after a long shift at work, for instance? Plan to have something easy to make at those risk points, if you want to reduce the number of takeaway orders.
Ok-Rain6295@reddit
Maybe you should take over all the cooking duties then, if you’re the one who doesn’t want take aways?
oliverprose@reddit
Don't underestimate the power of a freezer full of beige as a first stop to get off the takeaway train.
Personally I'm once a week, but that's more because I have somewhere I want to be soon after work on Thursdays and therefore grabbing something, eating it and going fits what I want to do.
ScientistJo@reddit
Our only regular takeaway is fish and chips, which we have once a month if we're being good and once a week if we're being lazy.
mdmnl@reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/s/oSVHMljQRA More often than this question gets posted but not much.
CoconutBandita@reddit
Well given that you're asking questions only to people who have wives, I think you're ruling out a lot of people from being able to answer.
Life is expensive enough. Cooking a simple meal at home is an easy way to save money. You can then spend the money on fun stuff. You can also save up for retirement, but perhaps if your meals are all coming from takeaways or breakfast cereal funding a long retirement isn't a concern.
We have a takeaway maybe once a month.
Ok-Middle8656@reddit
Sign up for a recipe box service for a year. You’ll then have a library of recipes and some experience cooking them. It’s amazing how you’re able to just rustle up something cheap and tasty after a bit of practice.
Illustrious-Air-7777@reddit
Very very rarely. For a start we can’t get deliveries. To follow that, when we have made the effort to drive to pick something up I have always been left disappointed and realised I could cook it better at home, far more cheaply, and probably faster too. The sole exception being fish and chips. Curries, Chinese, burgers, pizza etc I have ingredients on hand and can cook from scratch.
Agitated_Parsnip_178@reddit
Once every 3 months. Cooking is so much fun as a couple. Your spending is absolutely bonkers. £350 is a hefty car payment, half my last mortgage etc.. get a couple of decent Waitrose oven pizzas and give the other £325 to the British Heart Foundation.
Midnightraven3@reddit
Waitrose pizzas or M&S £15 meal deals was going to be my suggestion, they change up their meal deals often and there is lots to pick from
romeo__golf@reddit
On average maybe two or three times in a month, but I tend to eat out a lot more than getting things delivered.
I absolutely hate Deliveroo/Uber Eats on principle. Terrible working conditions for their riders, jacked-up prices and excessive fees compared to ordering directly, and absolutely no help from customer service when things go wrong. So if I'm getting takeaway food, I'll nearly always call the restaurant directly then go and pick it up myself.
The only exception locally is Domino's because, although they charge £3.50 for the delivery now, their riders (who use e-bikes where I live) get paid a proper wage and it actually arrives quickly and hot.
Elegant_Mind7950@reddit
Twice a week at least.
Iwantedalbino@reddit
Daily ish
We’ve got a new baker round the corner so that’s WFH sorted, the work canteen is terrible value for money and I’m too disorganised (LAZY) to meal prep.
Evening meals are all mostly cook from scratch (I ain’t making pasta)
thelajestic@reddit
Every couple of weeks. Sometimes more if we're particularly tired/busy/have a hankering for something in particular.
I like to cook and I'm good at it, so I mostly cook. My husband doesn't love cooking but he's learned how to make a lot of our staple/quick dishes so if I'm tired/ill/can't be bothered he will quite often step in. But there are so many options for takeaway now - when I was younger I got takeaway maybe 2-3 times a year when the options were basically pizza, chippy, Indian, Chinese. Now I can get a really decent burger, a sushi/ramen feast, mezze platters, tapas etc without leaving the comfort of my home and without needing to cook it, so it is quite nice just to do that sometimes.
MoistPossibility3446@reddit
Once every week sometimes twice
12Keisuke@reddit
once a week
BellaSeashell@reddit
Probably once a month, and even then it’s usually because we’re shattered and can’t be bothered cooking rather than it being a normal habit. It still feels more like a treat more than a regular thing… and we can often talk ourselves out of it when we work out it’ll often cost us £30-40 just for 2 of us.
What always surprises me is how many people can afford regular takeaways and even daily food bought out at work. I’ve known colleagues on fairly average wages spending £20–£25 a day on breakfasts, lunches, coffees and snacks, then still buying food again at home. That adds up frighteningly fast over a month.
I suspect people who order takeaways all the time might be less likely to admit it on here too, as it’s one of those guilty habits people know they probably should cut back on… but don’t really want to think about it because the convenience of it all is just so tempting.
muttley_87@reddit
We get take away 4-6 times a month, we almost never eat out either if that accounts to anything, but we both work nights so it's easier to say we can't be bothered to cook at the odd hours we're awake.
Agreeable_Archer_210@reddit
I’d say 6-8 times a year probably. It is mostly when people come to stay and offer to buy a takeaway - we probably buy one ourselves 2-3 times.
Appropriate_Log1654@reddit
Probably £60-100 - we have 2 kids aged 14 months and 4 who obviously do not have takeaway. We had a takeaway every fortnight or so - some months it's every week. I cook from scratch most nights, bulk cook and freeze for busy work nights. To be honest we buy them as sometimes we are exhausted, prior to kids we had 1 takeaway a month on payday, some months we didn't bother.
We will get lunch out in a cafe on one of the weekend days, but this will be homemade.
Fudge_is_1337@reddit
More than once a month, less than once a week. Most often on a Friday, if we've done a meal plan and shop from Sunday through the working week, we might not plan something for Friday. That's just as likely to end up being a supermarket pizza from the nearest little Sainsbury's/Tesco as it is a takeaway though
I do generally speaking enjoy cooking, and as long as we have a bit of a plan for the week its generally practical to avoid too many takeaways. We typically plan meals around our evening activities - if we're both out then its likely to be something that can be done in under 30 mins when we get back, or something pre-batched and pulled out of the freezer
£350 does seem a bit mad for two people, especially when you consider what proportion of that will be service, delivery or other fees.
Direct_Vegetable1485@reddit
I'd say I get a lot more convenience food that feels like a takeaway (my nearest supermarket is next door) so I'll be getting an oven pizza, or a pie and chips, things like that. I struggle with recipes and having multiple pans going on at the same time because of my autism, but I make a point of putting veg in every meal (there are convenience options for veg too!). A bag of precut stir fry veggies is another super easy one. This means my food costs are higher but probably not as high as if I was doing pure takeaway.
frowawayakounts@reddit
It’s bad enough getting takeaway food but at least go and get it yourself. Ubereats and just eat are terrible companies that shouldn’t be supported
theflowersyoufind@reddit
Once a week
ImaginationCalm4817@reddit
I used to get takeout loads (well almost always mcdonalds) but it was costing me so much and making my binge eating disorder worse. But I defo didnt spend that much, it was more like £100 a month as maccies gives you tonnes of free stuff with the points. Anyways I deleted all the apps which seems like it wouldn't make a difference because I could just order off the internet. But it actually made a HUGE difference. For me the biggest one also was deleting the mcdonalds app. As I would keep ordering stuff because 'I will just use my points and not order again' but then I would get more points from that order and so on. I haven't had mcdonalds for over a month which seems not that amazing to most people but I was getting it multiple times a week for years. £350 is absolutely insane and you could be saving SO much money by just cooking. Even ready meals. Imagine how many holidays you have missed out on because of that.
apfm141@reddit
Once a month usually only exception was when we were having a new kitchen
No_Statistician1002@reddit
I enjoy cooking I put a show on my phone in the background and cook usually and it’s my partners time to spend time with the baby then. We usually have a takeaway once every month at the most. My dad though was similar to you. He would get home some days around 9pm and his partner would not cook anything at all. So they would end up getting a takeaway like 4-5 times a week honestly. They’ve cut down now by just buying frozen food to stick in the airfryer still not the best though.
ParsleyChops@reddit
Maybe once every month, I don’t like fast food but we love Pho. £350 seems excessive to me, if you’re looking for ways to cut that down perhaps you could both look at doing a cooking class together?
Jealous-Afternoon322@reddit
Our take away is only in a month or more if special occasions like birthday, anniversary etc. However, we have two school age kids so buying supermarket pizza (Friday dinner) and ready meal (macaroni cheese) for kids, otherwise, it’s just home cooking. £350 is like 3 to 4 weeks shopping for us.
Hot_College_6538@reddit
We spend £150 a month on takeaways and meals out. 2 of us and likely 2 adult kids. It's likely either 2 take aways or one restaurant meal.
That includes lunches, burgers, Tesco Meal Deals etc. Everything else is from the supermarket. Kids might spend their own money on top.
EnigmaMissing@reddit
I suppose I have the advantage that no takeaway exists near me, but once a month, possibly twice
It's not a quick cheap thing anymore, either, so it gets planned ahead, like a "oh, [upcoming date] is gonna be a late one, I'll pick something up otw home" and budget for it
painful_butterflies@reddit
Once every two weeks. My wife an my shifts collide so neither are home every other Thursday, so take away it is.
catssocksandcoffee@reddit
Up to a few years ago, it used to be at least once a fortnight. Nowadays we can go months without ordering one. We've had two in the past couple of weeks but that's absolutely exceptional for us.
It's never been a deliberate thought that we needed to order less often, I think it's just that when we both worked full time and were stressed, we needed more 'compensation' out of life. Now we both work fewer hours, we order when we want one, rather than because we've got no energy left to cook. We drink less alcohol now, too
White_hammer82@reddit
Very rarely maybe once every few months. Problem nowadays is that it's very easy to be lazy and order from an app. People really don't realise how much money they waste on takeaways, meal deals, coffee shops etc then wonder why they don't have much money or are unhealthy
AF_II@reddit
I don't have a wife but pretty much yes. We usually eat one 'takeout' meal (e.g. burgers, pizza, chinese, curry) a week although sometimes we eat in, and then a fancier dinner and on brunch-lunch out. But all the other meals are home made.
We both WFH a couple of days a week which makes it easier, but we batch cook for things like packed lunches for work.
Efficient_Chance7639@reddit
Never. I either cook or eat out at a restaurant if I want something I don’t cook or I’m out on a day trip somewhere.
JL9285@reddit
We usually get a Chinese or a pizza delivered Friday nights. We take it in turns cooking during the week and do our food shops on Friday night to get a few nice bits for the weekend. £350 is crazy. You could be saving so much money by just cutting that out.
Remote-Pool7787@reddit
Once a week, that’s what we can afford
No-Translator5443@reddit
That’s nuts how much you spend but I’m sure they’ll be plenty of people that spend more, maybe you should try and get your Mrs into cooking do it together then it’s less work also a nice way to bond
OedipusRe10@reddit
Once a week we’ll buy chips to go with whatever I’m cooking (nobody in the house likes oven chips). Once a fortnight/month or so we’ll order a Chinese or Turkish delivery if we’re celebrating something (Eurovision, big rugby game) or if something has gone wrong with dinner (surprised by out of date food, etc.).
Nyxrinne@reddit
We cook pretty much every damn meal, both lunch and dinner. Not out of any great moral character, but because we live rurally and nowhere will deliver to us. We do pick up fish and chips when we're at the beach, or a Maccies when we're on the road. I had my first Dominos in years the other night after a house viewing, and it almost sold the house to me tbh. Until I remembered a pizza is maybe £3 a home once you've beefed up the toppings. Fundamentally our budget couldn't support £350 a month on takeaways.
dinkidoo7693@reddit
Depends really. If I’m at work I tend to nip to greggs or a local sandwich shop on my break. Does that class as a takeaway?
What about coffees?
Actual takeaway food thats delivered to the house would be a treat once or twice a month.
scream_schleam@reddit
Like the other commentator, once every 6 weeks or so. We cook a lot at home and eat each meal about 2-3 times, freeze the rest if remaining to eat on a lazy/busy day. We even make our lunches for work at home.
We plan meals weekly and shop based on that, I don’t think our food shops costs £350 per month despite my husband being gluten free and me lactose free.
I left home at 23 and couldn’t even boil an egg but now I can cook and bake really well.
Technically everyone can cook - following a recipe is not hard but one must want to cook.
Noeggs70@reddit
We made a conscious decision to reduce it a few years ago (combination of heath and finances) Used to be at least once a week but decided that to aim for once a month - Friday after payday That's not say we can't have it more than that - for example we're currently building a log cabin and one evening we'd done loads and we're knackered so had a takeaway
Prestigious-Ice-9749@reddit
My partner and I get one every 2 weeks, and usually get enough to have leftovers for dinner the next day
TheYetaaay@reddit
I avoid takeaway because it's basically the same price as eating out so why not make it a date and properly enjoy it if I'm spending the money anyway. We'll have takeaway only when we've had a crazy day of travelling, or just generally a fully jam packed day. If in a hurry/ tired I can just make something for dinner in 20 minutes and it's always gonna be quicker than a takeaway can get to you
SuperDinkle406@reddit
Once a month. We cook our own food to be healthier and for food to be less costly.
eeyorethechaotic@reddit
Maybe once every couple of months. £350 per month is far too expensive for me!
miklcct@reddit
I rarely buy takeaway but I have about £350 of supermarket shopping per month just for myself.
Thoughtless-Test@reddit
I work insane hours so maybe once a week but one of my jobs also has food trucks so really depends.
But i cook most nights
The_Blip@reddit
I dine out once or twice a week, but I generally try to avoid fast food and prefer sitting down at a restaurant. I do a lot of batch cooking, so that meals are homemade without additives and plenty of vegetables, but then once I've cooked curry, bolognese, chili, etc once in a big batch, I can freeze the rest in portions and reheat then anothet time.
baby_oopsie_daisy@reddit
We grab a takeaway every Friday night. The rest of the week I cook our meals, work lunches are made at home and neither of us are coffee drinkers so we aren't spending lots of money throughout the week on food and drink
Warm-Reference-4965@reddit
Not very often at all. Maybe once every 2-3 months. I do enjoy cooking though and a takeaway for a family including a hungry teenager is so expensive these days! We actually had an Indian takeaway on Saturday night which was a lovely treat.
shibster00@reddit
Once maybe twice a month for a treat, currently on a 5 day fast to help sort out my ibs
AdAccomplished8342@reddit
Takeaway or eating out is once a week roughly. All other days are home cooked meals by me or the husband.
PerLin107@reddit
Once a week sometimes omce every two weeks.
random_banana_bloke@reddit
take away for us is like every few months, its a super rare treat. I would just rather spend the money elsewhere, when we do get take away i make sure its the good stuff like a fancy curry and spend a lot as its a real treat.
Purple_love__2@reddit
Very very rarely, probably evens out about once every 3-4 months and only ever as an emergency meal when travelling/coming back from somewhere. I would prefer to get a fresh supermarket pizza than a takeaway
AlarmingCash754@reddit
Once every 2 weeks. But it’s usually something like a Subway or a pizza. Before I dropped a lot of weight I was ordering at least 3 times a week, probably totalling £60…it was terrible.
Glozboy@reddit
Once a month at most, for a treat. Otherwise, we cook everything from scratch.
Necessary_Money_9757@reddit
A proper takeaway like Indian or Chinese? A couple of times a year.
Fish and chips on holiday or when my grandparents visit.
Occasional McDonald's on a long car journey.
Specialist_-Berry@reddit
We do it nowhere near as often as you, and we consider ourselves to have a takeaway problem...
cannontd@reddit
We cook every day. £350 on takeaways? That’s about 3 weeks shopping for us three. Cooking doesn’t always need to be from scratch but honestly whenever I look at food ordering and for the cost you could have fillet steak every night. The other thing is - takes about an hour to arrive. Apparently no one has time to cook so they just be really busy in that hour.
You just need to stop telling yourself it’s because you don’t want to cook. It’s because the takeaways are packed with fat/salt/sugar and you get used to it to the point where the idea of a jacket potato and salad makes you think “I’d rather have cereal”
Legitimate_War_397@reddit
Take out twice a month rest is 50/50 on cooking. It’s not difficult to cook if you have the right utensils , meal plan and follow good recipes.
QuestNetworkFish@reddit
Usually once every 1-2 weeks. Me and my partner are both pretty good cooks but takeaway and convenience foods fill the gaps when we're both too tired after work
Redgrapefruitrage@reddit
We have a takeaway maximum twice a month (usually only once), otherwise all other meals are homemade.
I don’t know what the norm is but I suspect most people have some form of takeaway a few times a month.
readytocomply13@reddit
More often than I should. I have ME/CFS, and sometimes takeaway is just so much easier.
funusernam3@reddit
similar for me
antlered-god@reddit
Either my wife or I cook. We only really have takeaways for things like birthdays etc or maybe as a treat when we're on holiday. Otherwise it's way too expensive and common knowledge that it's an unhealthy way to eat.
wondered-bongo@reddit
Probably once every 2 weeks if im watching what I eat. If im not then maybe twice a week
Prudent-Pressure2146@reddit
Me and bf get a takeaway or go out to eat once a week I’d say. The rest of the time it’s us, occasionally I’ll get a meal deal etc through the week but that’s about it
throwmeaway758324@reddit
We are once or twice a week, unfortunately
dennis3282@reddit
Once or twice a month I'd say, just as a treat or if we are feeling lazy.
And always if we have been out and hungover, though that isn't too often.
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