I’m not a fan of fast food restaurants. I think they are particularly over priced for the amount of food you get. Let’s not even go into how unhealthy the food is.
Yet there are times when you’re tired, have little time, or for some other reason need to get a quick bite to eat. Its times like these that a quick stop into the local Burger King is unavoidable.
….. or is it.
Recently on my way to work I decided to bypass my local McDonald’s and make a quick stop at the nearby supermarket. In minutes I had picked up two bananas, a pear, and an orange and was on my way to my morning meeting.
The grand total – $1.64 for a healthy breakfast. Much less than the $4.99 I would have spent at McDonald’s.
Its not just breakfast that I’ve skipped the fast food restaurant in favor of the supermarket. One night coming home late from work I realized that there would be absolutely nothing to eat in the kitchen.
My normal inclination would have been to pull into the nearest Wendy’s and shell out $8.39 for dinner. This time I remembered that the local store was having a special on Marie Callender frozen dinners – 5 frozen dinners for $10.
Into the store I zipped and a few minutes later I was home enjoying my dinner for a fraction of the cost of Wendy’s.
Sometimes to save money you just have to think outside the box.
Have you ever used the supermarket instead of a fast food restaurant for a quick meal? Feel free to share your experience by leaving a comment below.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
We utilize grocery stores in lieu of fast food, especially on vacations/road trips. Fast food makes me feel awful plus it sure doesn’t provide any energy.
Yes…I especially like the $4.99 rotisserie chickens. I cook up a vegetable and noodle side dish at home, add applesauce, and dinner is served!
@Nancy – I totally agree – fast food can really eat into your budget when you’re on a road trip. We used to buy lunch meat and rolls from the supermarket along with cans of soda and fruit then make our own sandwiches and put everything in a cooler before setting out on a road trip.
@ Holly. I know what you mean. My mother used to do this all the time. Rotisserie chicken + a cheap salad and some canned corn or other vegetables and we had a quick dinner on the cheap =)
I have been doing this for my husband for years! Admittedly, some days it is rice and beans but we do go more exotic too. There are these commercials that run here about saving $500 per yr by brown bagging 2 days a week and shopping at Walmart. Who can afford to eat out the other 3 days? I have been staying home with my boys for 4 years though so maybe that is why I cannot imagine it. Thanks for showing your readers that it is possible to pack your lunch and have something yummy too!
Karen and the boys
Cesar, Max-5, Gabriel-4 and Sebastian will be born in a few more hours by scheduled c section today!
Karen,
Congratulations on the new addition to your family !!!!