[Laura]

I would love to see a retired couples budget. We are not hurting, but hubby wants to go out to eat at least 5 times a week.

We’re seeking advice on how retired couples can effectively budget for dining out five times a week while ensuring financial stability.

For many retirees, dining out is a cherished social activity, providing enjoyment and connection.

However, balancing this lifestyle with a fixed income can be challenging.

What strategies or tips can help retirees manage their finances to accommodate regular dining out?

Should they consider certain types of restaurants, use specific budgeting tools, or adopt any particular saving techniques?

We’re interested in hearing about realistic approaches that don’t compromise on the quality of life or financial security.

Whether it’s tips on finding deals, ways to cut back on other expenses, or creative meal planning ideas that allow for more flexibility in dining out, we’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

[Carrie]

Choose the venue carefully and it might work out economically.

Go to a restaurant with large portions of food that can be easily reheated at home for a second meal.

Or go to places that offer free stuff.

We have gone to Olive Garden when they have the “buy one entree, get one free” special.

So we get free salad and breadsticks, order bottomless soup, and two entrees.

Eat salad, soup, and breadsticks at the restaurant, take home two full entrees per person, each of which makes at least two meals when you add a vegetable.

So that’s four more meals per person at home, in addition to what you eat at the restaurant.

If a person just wants to eat out most nights, the leftovers may not be tempting.

For us, though, it’s like hitting the jackpot.

[AB]

It bothers me to sink too much money into something we flush

[Gale]

We are retired and go out to eat for lunch, not dinner…. twice a week, although sometimes it’s a sandwich that we bring home and share, pricing our own chips and drinks.

Often a restaurant meal provides leftovers for lunch the next day.

[Susan]

My inlaws ate out every weekday for 28 years – mostly Golden Corral, but once in a while fast food like Arby’s.

They could afford it, they didn’t have to cook or clean up, and it was a social time with others in their community.

I see nothing wrong with it, although I wouldn’t do a buffet every time – I like brining home some leftovers!

[Christina]

5 meals a week is a lot. The only people I know who are doing that kind of thing are millionaires.

[Sally]

We’ve actually found that since Covid curtailing activities… We enjoy making food and eating at home much more…

We have a nice view, the food is usually better and healthier, we are not in a rush, and it doesn’t cost near as much…

[Ann]

Do you have credit cards with a rewards program.? Get restaurant gift cards with your rewards

[Kimberly]

Got out just for dessert or share one entree! Still special but keeps costs down

[Michelle]

We eat out once a month. Our budget is 3,800 a month. Half of that is our mortgage payment.

We do not have cable or satellite.

Too expensive.

We spend around 300 a month on food for 3 adults. Almost 400 for part b Medicare.

100 for car insurance that covers 2 cars.

Full coverage.

30 for internet, 40 for streaming services, 40 a month for gasoline, 100 for electricity.

We have our own source of water.

We also grow our own food, except for meat or dairy, we compost our food scraps.

We don’t have garbage pick up since we compost and recycle for free. Our cost to go to the dump every year is 50 bucks.

No our garbage does not smell or does it attract rodents.

Everything I make us from scratch.

We are fully a self effective household.

[Sheila]

I think it would help to know – What are the reasons why he likes to eat out?

Because depending on the reason- can sometimes offset it’s validity as to why.

[Deezy]

Start filling the house with delicious smells earlier in the day. Slow cooker time!

[Karen]

We eat out a late breakfast or lunch. Drink water, the coffee, tea or sodas add a lot to a restaurant bill.

We do a nice seafood & steak house every other month.

[Kelli]

If you have AARP, you get senior discounts at a lot of restaurants, but 5 times a week is a LOT.

Unless you go to places like Taco Cabana for breakfasts.

That’s where my extending family and I meet up a couple times a month for brunch.

I know I can do it for under $10 so that is one of my favorite options.

[Gigi]

We do a sit down dinner at a resturant for special occasions hubby likes a fast food burger, but it’s over $10 for the meal.

I can just eat fruit/cottage cheese.

I mostly cook every night and we have breakfast everyday.

Lunches are ???.

[Debbie]

Depends on many factors, like where you live and what you eat. Some restaurants give enough for 2 people to eat.

Sometimes it can be cheaper to eat out.

[Merrilyn]

Would love to do this too, but my mind tells me that even if affordable to me, I jus wouldn’t

(lifetime of past struggles with money say it’s too hard to earn just to “waste” on anything that isn’t a camping trip or budget holiday – we all have our own ideas of what a treat is I guess, no judging others special treats)

[Barb]

Are we talking food or in general. Im.a widow but for me. And for my husband when he was living we considered dining out part of the retirement lifestyle.

Our budget gosl fopr two for dining in was around.200 not including any non food items Obviously .

that’s slowly sneaking up for me, sometimes I think.its more expensive for ine than two.

We had a separate budget and I still have for dining out.

Happy hours, festivals and special holiday food.

I generally eat breakfast out once a week have a late lunch after social stuff and meet someone for coffee.

I budget 75 a week for that portion (lunch is always less expensive) and often have leftovers.

The other day we treat our local.fish place and there were no leftovers but i had hunbo fried shrimp, coleslaw and begneits (sp).

[Annette]

I must be missing something. Why does it matter what others people’s budgets are if your partner wants to eat out so much.

[Angel]

I am on disability, hubby gets pensions. We budget for rent, power, internet, cell, car payment, gas, car insurance, renters insurance, food, pet supplies, debt payment, credit card, Netflix, Amazon.

[Author]

Posts