Cost of Living Crsis: Fast Food

Zardnaar

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Nov 16, 2003
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Dunedin, New Zealand
General Fast Food typethread. Do you eat it, how often and the cost. Not to picky if it overlaps with restaurants for comparison.

Here we hear about UK Fish and Chips exploding in price or McDonalds in USA.

We dine out tor breakfast weekly, dinner bi weekly to monthly. Depending on if it counts as fast food coffee and snack from a cafe is more our jam.

We did go to a fish and Chip shop last week. Didn't have fish though. Two scoops of chips, beef satay burger, deep fried sausage. Price was $21 NZD around $13 usd for 2 people. F&C shops here double as Chinese takeout and burgers as well. Sone do Cambodian or SEA food.

We are more likely to order Indian. Local joint s menu.


1 NZD=0.60 usd approx. Curry is about $10-$12.

Typical order would be a kadai and 2 naan's do around $30/$18 USD.

Burger joint somewhere local over USA takeaway. Last had KFC Dec 2017, McDonalds Oct last year after travel.
 
McDonald's has more than tripled its prices since covid. One cheeseburger now costs around $4 +GST. I used to be able to get 3 of them for that amount.

I'm going to the mall tomorrow for milk and a few things, and plan to try the new Chinese place opening in the food court. For tomorrow's opening they're offering a 25% discount on meals, plus the first 100 customers (have to buy food to be a customer) get a free can of pop. So if I can manage to be one of those first 100 people, that's a good deal. If I just get a couple of side orders instead of a meal, I can turn that into 2-3 meals at home, since I already have rice, some mini spring rolls, and plum sauce.

Otherwise, if I want fast food, it's usually a box of Timbits or maybe an apple fritter from Tim Horton's. I might try their pizza sometime - that's a new thing on their menu. But usually when I get pizza nowadays I get several (using appropriate discount codes) and freeze them.
 
Yep, fast food these days is way too expensive. Most of the time you might as well head to a sit-down restaurant where you'll be served. The one consideration is the time it takes to get your food brought to your table, I suppose. If you're in a rush it might have to be fast food.

In such a scenario I turn to their stupid apps... The thing is though.. There's no way I'm going to have a different app for each different fast food place, but that's the game they want you to play. In these apps you can find pretty good deals, depending on your luck.. I was using the subway app for a while to get their new premium subs at a nice discount.. I'd check once a week or so and a deal would usually turn up... but then I noticed that they are still selling their oldschool subs at the same price as they used to. So, I can get a 12 inch coldcut or pizzamelt sub for $11.50ish CAD after tax. No tip required ofc, one of the benefits of fast food.. That's the equivalent of $8.42 in colourless American money! Or green money, or whatever. You get what I'm saying. That's a pretty good deal these days, especially considering that I load up my subs with lots of veggies. I usually prefer that to a sloppily assembled greasy burger that makes me feel like crap an hour later.

And that's the thing, fast food burgers look so tiny and pathetic these days.. and cost so much more. I mainly stay away from those. I used to love whoppers, they used to be packed with stuff. Now there's hardly anything in there. You used to be able to get 2 whoppers for $5, like 5 years ago, every wednesday or something. Now you'll be lucky if you can get one whopper for $7. And the look so pathetic, like I said. I don't think I'll ever step a foot inside a burger king ever again. McDonald's.. well.. I used to love the whopper.. but it's gone up in price and hardly seems worthwhile these days. I used to eat 2-3 at a time! Those were the days.. Heck, I remember us buying burgers from Fast Eddies for 20 cents a pop! We'd get like 30-40 of them at once, stuffed ourselff full on the penny, and gave the leftover burgers to the security dude who was always nice to us. These days one of those burgers costs a couple bucks. And their crazy fry don't taste the same anymore! The chili is gone. Why would I ever return to Fast Eddies?

Before this turns into a rant, let me just say.. I'm eating a LOT LESS fast food these days.. I can't really remember the last time I ate at a MCds, Burger King, Wendy's, or Harvey's.. or a Taco bell.. and KFC these days is just plain gross.. I eat subway for lunch more often than I'd like to admit, since there aren't really that many food options near my work, especially in the summer.. but other than that.. when I eat out, I usually go to a proper restaurant. Prices have gone up at those too, but not nearly as much. The price of fast food has gone up so much it's almost comparable to decent sit-down restaurants.. The one befit is that you don't have to tip at a fast food joint.. but even with an extra 15-20% at a sit-down resaurant, fast food prices have gone up so much, I almost always go with a proper restaurant for a meal. Who wants to pay $12 for a crappy pathetic looking burger that will make you feel crappy in an hour?

I've also been doing a lot more cooking on my own. That's really the way to go. You can make your own burger, with blackjack, and hookers, and whatever else you want. It'll be cheaper and it will probably taste better, too.
 
Otherwise, if I want fast food, it's usually a box of Timbits or maybe an apple fritter from Tim Horton's. I might try their pizza sometime - that's a new thing on their menu. But usually when I get pizza nowadays I get several (using appropriate discount codes) and freeze them.
It's more of a pizza-themed flatbread than an actual pizza. And it's super location dependent when it comes to quality. This is usually contrary to how it goes, but a Timmies with more of its limited-edition foods (the special wraps and bowls) in stock will probably have better-quality pizzas. The ones that only have the absolute basic foods available will give you something reminiscent of cardboard mixed with hardtack.
 
Hm. Maybe I'll pass on that, then. The place I go to is a mall kiosk that doesn't have half the stuff that a sitdown restaurant has. I usually get some Timbits and an apple fritter, if they're not sold out. There are only 3-4 varieties of Timbits I like - honey, chocolate, strawberry, and blueberry. The others are basically tasteless and rather dry.
 
My approach to Tim's these days is that it's a great place to use the bathroom when you really have to go. It's also a good place to buy a cold bottle of water or sprite, when you're on the go. Convenience stores can get sketchy with extra fees when you use a credit card, especially convenience stores you aren't used to.. but with a Tim's you always know what you will be charged and that there's a toilet waiting there for you should you need one. I used to buy their sandwiches from time to time, but these days I only do that in an absolute emergency.

It also shouldn't annoy me so much, but they don't even know how to name their restaurant right. Tim Hortons? How many guys named Tim Horton are hiding in there? I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be named after one dude, not 17.

So they suck at making good food and they are illiterate to boot. Not a great combo, so I try to stay away if I can.
 
Occasionally but it's unhealthy and expensive. Two reasons to avoid it.

A DQ meal is $7 (burger or tenders, fries, drink, sundae that can be upgraded to a Blizzard for $2 more). I can easily get a better lunch at the grocery store or hospital cafeteria for less than $7.
 
My approach to Tim's these days is that it's a great place to use the bathroom when you really have to go. It's also a good place to buy a cold bottle of water or sprite, when you're on the go.

Try out the peach drink sometime!
 
Try out the peach drink sometime!

I'm actually not a big fan of peaches! Sorry Presidents of the United States of America

Had a croissant at a Tim's when I flew back to Canada earlier this week, actually. It was good. I stopped getting croissants at Tim's because I got just an absolutely horrid one once, which turned me off trying Tim croissants forever.. but.. I was starving and needed a quick snack, and there was nothing else around. Anyway, I'm a bit more open to Tim's croissants now, but am still skeptical about the croissant quality consistency there. We will see if the next one I buy ends up being sometime this year.. or next decade.
 
Yep, fast food these days is way too expensive. Most of the time you might as well head to a sit-down restaurant where you'll be served. The one consideration is the time it takes to get your food brought to your table, I suppose. If you're in a rush it might have to be fast food.

In such a scenario I turn to their stupid apps... The thing is though.. There's no way I'm going to have a different app for each different fast food place, but that's the game they want you to play. In these apps you can find pretty good deals, depending on your luck.. I was using the subway app for a while to get their new premium subs at a nice discount.. I'd check once a week or so and a deal would usually turn up... but then I noticed that they are still selling their oldschool subs at the same price as they used to. So, I can get a 12 inch coldcut or pizzamelt sub for $11.50ish CAD after tax. No tip required ofc, one of the benefits of fast food.. That's the equivalent of $8.42 in colourless American money! Or green money, or whatever. You get what I'm saying. That's a pretty good deal these days, especially considering that I load up my subs with lots of veggies. I usually prefer that to a sloppily assembled greasy burger that makes me feel like crap an hour later.

And that's the thing, fast food burgers look so tiny and pathetic these days.. and cost so much more. I mainly stay away from those. I used to love whoppers, they used to be packed with stuff. Now there's hardly anything in there. You used to be able to get 2 whoppers for $5, like 5 years ago, every wednesday or something. Now you'll be lucky if you can get one whopper for $7. And the look so pathetic, like I said. I don't think I'll ever step a foot inside a burger king ever again. McDonald's.. well.. I used to love the whopper.. but it's gone up in price and hardly seems worthwhile these days. I used to eat 2-3 at a time! Those were the days.. Heck, I remember us buying burgers from Fast Eddies for 20 cents a pop! We'd get like 30-40 of them at once, stuffed ourselff full on the penny, and gave the leftover burgers to the security dude who was always nice to us. These days one of those burgers costs a couple bucks. And their crazy fry don't taste the same anymore! The chili is gone. Why would I ever return to Fast Eddies?

Before this turns into a rant, let me just say.. I'm eating a LOT LESS fast food these days.. I can't really remember the last time I ate at a MCds, Burger King, Wendy's, or Harvey's.. or a Taco bell.. and KFC these days is just plain gross.. I eat subway for lunch more often than I'd like to admit, since there aren't really that many food options near my work, especially in the summer.. but other than that.. when I eat out, I usually go to a proper restaurant. Prices have gone up at those too, but not nearly as much. The price of fast food has gone up so much it's almost comparable to decent sit-down restaurants.. The one befit is that you don't have to tip at a fast food joint.. but even with an extra 15-20% at a sit-down resaurant, fast food prices have gone up so much, I almost always go with a proper restaurant for a meal. Who wants to pay $12 for a crappy pathetic looking burger that will make you feel crappy in an hour?

I've also been doing a lot more cooking on my own. That's really the way to go. You can make your own burger, with blackjack, and hookers, and whatever else you want. It'll be cheaper and it will probably taste better, too.

Expensive fast food here is comparable to cheap restaurant.

Faster restaurants here we can be home by 6pm. About an hour including travel
 
Yep, fast food these days is way too expensive. Most of the time you might as well head to a sit-down restaurant where you'll be served. The one consideration is the time it takes to get your food brought to your table, I suppose. If you're in a rush it might have to be fast food.

In such a scenario I turn to their stupid apps... The thing is though.. There's no way I'm going to have a different app for each different fast food place, but that's the game they want you to play. In these apps you can find pretty good deals, depending on your luck.. I was using the subway app for a while to get their new premium subs at a nice discount.. I'd check once a week or so and a deal would usually turn up... but then I noticed that they are still selling their oldschool subs at the same price as they used to. So, I can get a 12 inch coldcut or pizzamelt sub for $11.50ish CAD after tax. No tip required ofc, one of the benefits of fast food.. That's the equivalent of $8.42 in colourless American money! Or green money, or whatever. You get what I'm saying. That's a pretty good deal these days, especially considering that I load up my subs with lots of veggies. I usually prefer that to a sloppily assembled greasy burger that makes me feel like crap an hour later.

And that's the thing, fast food burgers look so tiny and pathetic these days.. and cost so much more. I mainly stay away from those. I used to love whoppers, they used to be packed with stuff. Now there's hardly anything in there. You used to be able to get 2 whoppers for $5, like 5 years ago, every wednesday or something. Now you'll be lucky if you can get one whopper for $7. And the look so pathetic, like I said. I don't think I'll ever step a foot inside a burger king ever again. McDonald's.. well.. I used to love the whopper.. but it's gone up in price and hardly seems worthwhile these days. I used to eat 2-3 at a time! Those were the days.. Heck, I remember us buying burgers from Fast Eddies for 20 cents a pop! We'd get like 30-40 of them at once, stuffed ourselff full on the penny, and gave the leftover burgers to the security dude who was always nice to us. These days one of those burgers costs a couple bucks. And their crazy fry don't taste the same anymore! The chili is gone. Why would I ever return to Fast Eddies?

Before this turns into a rant, let me just say.. I'm eating a LOT LESS fast food these days.. I can't really remember the last time I ate at a MCds, Burger King, Wendy's, or Harvey's.. or a Taco bell.. and KFC these days is just plain gross.. I eat subway for lunch more often than I'd like to admit, since there aren't really that many food options near my work, especially in the summer.. but other than that.. when I eat out, I usually go to a proper restaurant. Prices have gone up at those too, but not nearly as much. The price of fast food has gone up so much it's almost comparable to decent sit-down restaurants.. The one befit is that you don't have to tip at a fast food joint.. but even with an extra 15-20% at a sit-down resaurant, fast food prices have gone up so much, I almost always go with a proper restaurant for a meal. Who wants to pay $12 for a crappy pathetic looking burger that will make you feel crappy in an hour?

I've also been doing a lot more cooking on my own. That's really the way to go. You can make your own burger, with blackjack, and hookers, and whatever else you want. It'll be cheaper and it will probably taste better, too.

The McDonald's app is excellent for getting discounted food.

Lots of button pressing though.
 
The only fast food-ish restaurant in the nearest city is Vietnamese, and frankly, I don't mind at all. The food is better than your standard fast food, and it's similar price. 100-150 CZK (~4-6 EUR) for the food, drinks are about 1 EUR. For comparison, the smaller menus in McD or KFC in larger city a bit further away, which are less filling and tasty, start at around 150 CZK.
 
A family McDo's or equivalent is a good £20 in the UK (wife, two kids). So yeah, nah, unless we're starved for options.

Our at-home takeaways have gone down too. Partially by choice, partially by economic necessity. Places that were £15 even just a couple of years ago are £20 now. £20 is £30 now. Delivery is up, and the money doesn't even really go to the drivers for the third party apps.

Developed country folks! Wooooo! #winning

My wife does a lot of meal prep and I help out ad hoc whenever I can (she works part-time, I work full-time).
 
A family McDo's or equivalent is a good £20 in the UK (wife, two kids). So yeah, nah, unless we're starved for options.

Our at-home takeaways have gone down too. Partially by choice, partially by economic necessity. Places that were £15 even just a couple of years ago are £20 now. £20 is £30 now. Delivery is up, and the money doesn't even really go to the drivers for the third party apps.

Developed country folks! Wooooo! #winning

My wife does a lot of meal prep and I help out ad hoc whenever I can (she works part-time, I work full-time).

McDonalds can blow out over 20 pounds here just the two of us no kids.

We don't really eat it much anyway. Last time we got back to town late and it was right there around 7:30pm. That was October last year.
 
Well, the Chinese food is good there, and the portions are large (though the spring roll isn't). That's enough for 3 small meals or 2 large ones. And yes, I got the free can of Coke.

When I got back, the manager let me snag a couple of mini banana bran muffins one of the tenants had made for him. They usually make a batch or two and bring one to the office for the staff to share, and they usually offer some to anyone else who wanders in.
 
Struggle to eat Chinese. Just sick of it and prefer Indian or Cambodian if ones going for Asian meals.
 
Went out for breakfast today. Eggs on toast add half a grilled tomato. Just didn't feel lije anything greasy, fried, or meat eg bacon. $10 meal with a $3 coffee.

Why bother with McDonalds?

Well more brunch ate sone oats earlier.
 
General Fast Food typethread. Do you eat it, how often and the cost.
I don't. At least not willingly. As a general rule I prefer to eat homemade meals exclusively. And if that can't be achieved I'd rather have some bread and jam than anything that comes from a dubious fast food stand.
 
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