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We try to aim for eating out once or twice a week, $30 each time. So, anywhere between $120-$240/month. My guess is aroind $200

We get takeout once a week, on Friday. Other than that, the only other eating out we do is during the week, for lunch/breakfast at the work cafeterias. That's where if I plan ahead, we can save $$$$.

DH and I used to eat out like 4 or 5x a week before DS, probably around 400$ a week ! In our defense we had no kids or bills lol. and now since DS the only eating out we do is take out. Maybe 2x a week so we're saving lots of money in comparison. DS is not a fan of the high chair, and it's easier to just bring the food home, so he can play and we can eat in peace!

I agree that work lunches make or break the budget. For the two of us it's roughly 40 lunches per month. That alone could be $400! We try to pack at least 3 times per week if not 4 times per week. That puts our lunch budget weekly around $25-50 (monthly $100-200).

For family dinners it's maybe once a week and then pizza once a week. We try to find cheaper places but sometimes we end up with a $50 bill or something. Usually we can stay around $35 for the four of us. So that's about $150-200 per month).

So combined it's still definitely over $200 per month. But it helps our sanity. And we found if we don't go out we splurge more at the grocery store buying steaks or seafood.

We eat out or get take out once a week. We aim to keep it $35 or less each week. Then the occasional special occasion meal that costs more but that is only a few times a year.

I don't know the exact amount but definitely more than $200/month.

Over $200 because I don't cook much and we live in NYC so it's easy to go out frequently. We do date night once a week or so as well and it's usually on the pricier side.

We used to eat out a lot more, but when I did the calculations I hated how much money we were wasting. Now, we eat out maybe 1-2x/week and try to keep it under $30.

We've saved so much money since being more mindful about the cost of eating out.

We used to do once a week and then we implemented a ban on eating out. Both didn't work for us. Now we go out to eat whenever we have a milestone to celebrate. It can be big or small. It ends up being about 3X a month for about $20-30. It is nice eating out for 'special' occasions. Then it is a break from routine and just makes it so special. When the cost of eating out for one meal is equal 1/4 of our weekly grocery budget..it's so hard to justify. I'd rather eat at home...unless someone else is treating!

I have to admit I love to eat out, as does DH, even with two toddlers. I don't know exactly what we spend, but it is well over $200. I try to cook dinner at home 4x per week. If we do that, I'm perfectly happy eating out the rest.

Food is expensive where we live. Even if we were to do McDonald's, the bill would be $40 for the 4 of us. I would say that our eating out bill hovers around $100-$150.

DH and I have gotten a lot better at this recently.

I've never been huge on take out (I grew up in a rural area where delivery didn't exist, so I'm just not used to it). But DH used to work in a restaurant, so the nights he closed, he'd grab take out on the way home.

Now that he's working days, we're eating out a lot less. Maybe carry out twice a week and one meal out on the weekend?

I've also tried to freeze more leftovers so I don't get sick of them and let them go bad. That way when we don't feel like cooking, at least we have some home cooked options

Quite a bit when I add it up. Well over $200. We've been better lately though because DH is on shift now so any day he works I cook because we don't have time to go out.

$50-$75 a month. We very rarely eat out or get take out. Usually 1-2 times a month.

I voted $150-$200 but I actually have no idea My budget used to be $15/ week (one cheap lunch for me and DD1 and one coffee date) but once I got really pregnant with DD2 I pretty much stopped budgeting meals out since I was too tired to cook. I gave myself a one-month grace period after DD2 was born to relax and not worry about the budget but she is almost a month old so... time to start being good again!

@yoursilverlining: Yes! its hard to eat out "cheap".

Lunches are usually fast food or some where with a lunch special so we can keep it under $10 per person with tax and tip.

Dinners we have a few select restaurants. A BBQ place the DH gets a big all you can eat plate ($12), I get a small sandwich deal that includes a drink ($8) and one kids meal $5. That puts us right around $30 or so. We pretty much never buy alcohol or appetizers out. Usually one of us will get a soda and the other gets water.

I would say $500/month. We typically take the kids out to eat one time a week - even someplace like Buffalo Wild Wings is $75 for a family of 4. Then probably pizza or chinese once a week is $50. So.....about $500/month. I should be ashamed, but I'm not. We love food and going out with our kids and would rather cut the budget elsewhere!

@yoursilverlining: We keep it under $30 by drinking water. We avoid soda, in general, for health reasons. We also often use gift cards, specials, coupons and stay away from super expensive choices. Kids meals are free, cheap or LO shares. It is definitely doable in our household. Our neighborhood is expensive but we find ways to do it cheap.

I don't keep track but we rarely eat out or get takeout, maybe 2-3 times per month. Takeout is over-priced here and the quality/service are generally terrible. I also live in a place where food is expensive (and they usually charge for water too!). Takeout/delivery costs at least €40 for our family of 4. That seems like a lot to me for a mediocre meal and I still have to clean up after.

We spend a ton on eating out, I have no idea how much. We eat out several times a week, especially on weekends. I am queen of convenience. Just last night we went to Moe's because I'm sick and not up for cooking. It was great to have a relatively inexpensive meal and no clean up. We end up doing stuff like that pretty often.