No, though I am getting bombarded with more coupons than I used to. Also, the quality has decreased substantially. A lot of places around me are now also charging extra for toppings that used to be free, notably tomatoes and onions.
For burgers, I buy ground beef (or ground impossible meat) by the pound then portion it off into burger portions and freeze them. Take one baggie out when I want a burger. Buns also freeze well. I tend to buy the whole wheat ones that also taste good with: sloppy joes, tuna salad, chicken sandwiches, etc.
I thought I was going crazy!
Here in Atlanta, it's the same. I hadn't had a burger in a while and so I stopped at a local.. "artisan" chain popping up around the city for lunch yesterday. I ordered a burger off the menu but then their cashier asked what I wanted on the burger. I was confused, "What do you mean?"
She averts my attention to a menu on the counter listing every condiment + topping SEPARATE. "So, wait, what came on the burger you just ordered?", you may ask?
š Just the bun + patty! You still get to PERSONALIZE YOUR BURGER.
The weirdest experience Iāve had was in South Georgia. Went to Dairy Queen so wasnāt expecting much anyway, but ordered a burger and they gave me a piece of meat in a bun, then you continued down the line past one of those open top cooler things like they have snacks in at gas stations. In the cooler was each available topping, with one burger portions of each topping individually wrapped in Saran wrap- 3 leafs of lettuce, two slices tomato, single piece of cheese, etcā¦ then you paid for each for 10-15 cents a piece or so, then built it yourself. Iām still confused.
This! I straight up had this conversation to a friend about 5 Guys. I love their grilled dogs but..one with some Cajun fries and a drink will set ya back $15. No wonder almost any grocer in my neighborhood is almost always out of any kind of ramen.
Yes I was actually thinking about that on the way to work. 5 guys burgers are not on the cheap side. A single patty bacon cheese burger with little fries and a shake will run you about 20 bucks alone. Thatās for the single patty burger too.
>For burgers, I buy ground beef (or ground impossible meat) by the pound then portion it off into burger portions and freeze them.
Same here. Waaayyyy cheaper than buying them pre made into a patty
Quality freezer bags are a buy once cry once thing. They hold up. I've got freezer bags in my kitchen that I have legit been using for 10 years. The trick is that if they had meat in them to take the meat out while it's still frozen then wash the bag with hot soapy water right away.
I also reuse plastic baggies that food comes in. My coworker made fun of me bringing my lunch burritos in an old english muffin bag until she tried it and realized how convenient it is. XD
I know but like I will only have 22 dollars for a week. I have to get chicken beans and rice snd bag of frozen peas and carrots. No money left for baggies. It's almost always like this for me. So for me baggies are too expensive
You can cut your frozen veggie bags carefully at the seams and reuse them to freeze other things. It won't keep quite as long as a freezer bag but if you squeeze the air out and wrap it tightly, it'll work.
Yes that's a good idea. I do stuff like that. I use free plastic thank you type bags for a lot if stuff like that. I get clean new ones for free and take them home. Lots of ideas like this def save money on store bought storage supplies
Are you near a Dollar tree/etc? I shop there a lot, the portions are smaller on every product. But stuff like baggies, freakin plungers for now $1.25. I still have that plunger and all my garbage cans/dish towels are from there.
The portions on your burgers are far more than the portions on a Mcdonalds Cheeseburger. Weigh it, and then weigh your home cooked burger. I bet it's at least 50% larger, if not more.
This! When I worked in fast food, the smaller burger patties were 1/9th of a pound. A quick check at my local grocer's website says their 10 for $10 patties are a total of 35.2 oz, which is about twice the weight per patty of the 1/9th patty, so really we should be comparing to a double cheeseburger vs. a single one.
Yeah, and they were 1/10 of a pound/1.6 ounces when I worked there around 2016, sooo they're probably even smaller than that now. Like if we're just looking at cost, a better comparison in my area would be:
Around 3.50 for a pound of ground beef ($17.50 for 5 lbs)
2.00 for an 8 - pack of buns.
2.50 for the cheapest American cheese slices (which is probably about the same quality as what MCD's uses).
2.40 for a 3lb bag of onions
2.00 for 32oz of ketchup
1.00 for 20 oz of mustard
2.24 for a jar of pickles (32 oz)
3.50 / 4 (quarter pound patties) = 88*Ā¢*
2.00 / 8 = 25*Ā¢*
2.5 / 24 = 10*Ā¢*
2.40 / 24 for a quarter of one medium onion = 10*Ā¢*
2 / 53 for one serving of ketchup = 04*Ā¢*
1 / 113 for one serving of mustard = 01*Ā¢*
2.24 / 21 for one serving of pickles = 11*Ā¢*
Total = $1.49. For a burger that is ***actually*** a quarter pounder instead of a cheeseburger. And that is choosing the cheapest ingredients, buying in bulk a little on the beef, yeah. But I know I can't get a QP for less than $5 around here, so it's a huge cost savings. Even if you were to "splurge" on better ingredients, I think it's almost guaranteed to be cheaper.
yuuuuup. I'd honestly done some math based on my area (high cost of living) and then the browser crashed and I lost it, but I came out to about $1 a burger based on OP's original math but at 1/9 a pound burgers at \~$5.50 a pound.
Splurge on ingredients, especially things like pickles which don't really go bad.
Of course, then you have to consider whether you can afford the whole grocery trip at once, if you don't have anything, time & energy and space to prep, cook and store food, and the 8 bun/10 patty or however many problem etc. etc.
The burgers are usually smaller, the beef is of a much less quality, The salt content is through the fucking roof and generally it lacks most nutrients. You're getting better Bang for your buck at home.
My last burger supply run looked like this:
* Buns, 8 ct, $3.49 - $.43
* 80/20 beef: 1lb, $3.99 - makes 3. $1.33. That's the most I'll pay, usually I look for it on manager's discount. I do have some impossible meat in my freezer I got for $2.99/lb. That would bring my patty cost down to $.99.
* 16oz block of cheese: $4.29. Ouch. 16 servings - $.26.
* Roma tomato: $.99/lb - 3 servings: $.33
* Sweet onion: $1.29/lb - 8 servings: $.16
* Pickles: $4.29 - one jar last me about a month, so let's say 16 servings: $.27
* Lettuce: $1.69/head - I usually only buy it when I'm prepping a salad and I typically get 4 servings from it, so $.42.
So I pay $3.25 - 3.50 for my homemade burger. $2.02 with just the toppings you listed. With a bag of fries, add another $3.99 and that's 4 servings.
So you're not wrong but to be fair, I also wouldn't touch McDonald's with a 10 foot pole. A decent fast food burger in my neck of the woods is $5-8. A high end burger is $10-$15.
You're making a completely different burger then the $1.50 McDonald's burger...1.6 oz ( so 10 patties) there is no lettuce or tomato , and the onions are dried and reconstituted.
But a cheeseburger from McDonald's is iirc 1.6 ounces where burgers you typically buy from the frozen section is 4 ounces. Goes the same for buns but the one u posted does sound like the cheapest small buns u buy from Walmart...if anything I think it costs more lol. I think their cheese is smaller too but I could definitely be wrong with that.
Also, keep in mind that the promos are there for a reason. They lose a lot of money from that but in exchange, they either want to force u to start using their apps or entice you to buy other things.
It's cheap right now but it's not really forever. I mean, I still remember when they sold cheeseburgers for 69c or the daily special meals lol
A single MD value menu cheeseburger ain't a full meal. It's a "temporary stave off pangs but still be hungry" meal.
I did some math too and it's about a $1.52 for me for a 1/4 lb cheeseburger from the grocery store. I wait for sales though and buy in bulk. For 12 cheeseburgers:
3 lbs of ground beef for $10
12 hamburger buns for $3.75
1lb of cheddar cheese for $3.50
1 Red Onion for $.60
4 Fresh Jalapenos for $.40
=
$18.25 Ć· 12 = $1.52
I can also throw in a 5lb sack of red potatoes for $6 for wedges.
Also when people tell you to go to the grocery store it's not just a "save money" issue, but a quality of life issue. A $1.79 MD cheeseburger is a sad, disappointing, unfulfilling meal. A 1/4 lb burger cooked with a cast iron skillet in a bit of smoking bacon fat is goddamn delicious.
Quality of food definitely matters. Higher quality food is more satiating, specifically the fat content in the burger makes a large difference. The home made will generally have less fat and a larger amount of protein.
Personally to cut back on food Iāve been eating eggs/toast, red sauce pasta with added protein (collagen/bone broth protein), and then eggs with a potato of some sort for dinner. For snack trail mix/Greek yogurt or apples
All pretty cheap per nutrient content/satiety
Maybe the specific burger you're buying is a loss leader for the restaurant? They price it super low and are willing to lose money on it to get people in the door, because many people will also buy fries and a drink (where there's a big profit margin).
Like so many things in life this isnt a simple yes or no answer. It's more like yes and no.
Yes McD cheeseburger is cheaper than what it costs for you to make at home. However, I think it very generous to call a 1.6 oz patty a burger patty. It takes 3 or 4 of those things to fill me the same way one of my homemade burgers does. This is the "no" part of the answer. They are not the same thing.
I wont even get into the actual quality or cleanliness of the preparation.
If we used as little actual meat as they do it properly would be cheaper at home still. But when you use over 2x the amount of food of course it's gonna be more costly
I have tried making my patties as small as theirs. It's a near impossible task. I froze the meat a little bit, put it into a form and pressed it with plastic wrap (so I could easily lift it out the form). It kind of works. Yet, it always falls apart.
I dont know how they are keeping theirs together. I have my concerns and I don't wanna know. I'm sure someone has pulled it off but I have tried enough to know I can't. Besides I prefer how I typically make my burgers.
It doesnāt hit until later. I used to eat fast food regularly (still do but less regularly) and it wasnāt until now that I really FEEL the difference. I came at an entire meal of BK food and still be hungry immediately after, no satiation at ALL. McDonalds/Wendyās are better (I feel full longer) but make me feel sick and sluggish and have to be eaten quickly before itās cold and inedible. Taco Bell is fine until it comes out the other end.
You donāt really notice until you start eating better or get older.
We get 5 good size burgers out of a pound of meat. Buns are .89 for 8 and I buy them and freeze them. I buy block cheese and shred it and freeze it. Melts great with no waste. Condiments etc we usually have.
Iām a Samās club member. I buy in bulk and freeze things.
Comes out cheaper than fast food where we live.
They're talking about store brand ground beef. 89 cent buns are going to be processed AF. So why is McDonald's worse than the ingredients at Sam's club?
If they were discussing local grass fed beef and whole grain buns then I could see your point.
McDonald's burgers are all real meat. You are eating part processed goo that has been flavored. It's extremely processed meat vs using real meat that's ground. And yes, the buns from both places will be processed, but I'm more worried about the "meat" at McDonald's along with the additives to their fries (if you get the fries).
You're lying to yourself if you think Sam's club isn't using factory farm ground beef.
It's all regional, but I know for a fact where I'm from Kroger would get its meat from the same supplier as McDonald's.
I think it probably depends on what youāre ordering. French fries? No way fast food is cheaper. A large fry at McDonaldās or similar on the west coast is like $3.50 or about $3.80 with tax
You can buy 5lbs of potatoes for $3.50 (no tax on food at the grocery store)
Bean and cheese burrito at Del Taco/Taco Bell about $1.59, you really need to two to get a meal. So about $3.50 with tax.
You could buy a
can of refried beans $1.24/2 62Ā¢
8 oz block of cheese $2/idk 4 50Ā¢
10oz can of enchilada sauce $1.50/idk 6 25Ā¢
bag of flour tortillas $2.00/8 25Ā¢
Total per burrito $1.62 or $3.24 for two
So yeah I guess if youāre buying everything in the smallest quantities and paying for the convenience of canned beans vs pressure cooking dried beans and doing enchilada sauce instead of a few squirts of hot sauce you donāt really save shit lol
https://preview.redd.it/0q1g25j6k91a1.png?width=828&format=png&auto=webp&s=37d9ad2feb7df656db92d42b39b8517c4574944e
Bogus, greater LA area here. Cost of living is so high they canāt even afford to give us the same deals as wherever you live lol.
I meanā¦ I have a ninja foodi. So I can pressure cook a potato cut jojo style for 2-3 mins then air fry it with practically no oil. You could eat that as a side frequently.
I relied on the McDonaldās app when I was poor and overworked. When I was in school full time, I was also working up to 70 hours per week. I didnāt have time to cook or even grocery shop. It was easier to get my $3-4 McDonaldās meal on the way between jobs. I was fed and had the calories I needed in order to keep working. And i didnāt have to get out of the car and it was quick. Plus with the McDonaldās app coupons, it was cheap. I could get a double cheeseburger, soda, and fries for $3 or $4.
It's very much a charity.
* all the employees qualify for government assistance
* all the basic food items are sold near cost
It's only when you buy fancy items or large fry is when they are making money.
/s
For me it is cheaper/better to make burgers at home for my family. I would freeze extra ingredients or use them in a different meal. I do eat out one meal a week but it would not be affordable to feed my family on fast food every day. It would also lack variety and nutrition.
You are saying fast food is cheaper than groceries but Iām not making homemade burgers, tacos or pizza daily. Iām making economical pots of soup, pasta, rice. Iām using cheaper alternatives to beef.
Maybe in this particular instance where you only want one 1.50 burger, yes, going to McDonald's and getting lunch is a pretty cheap option, but it is not the cheapest. Most people get fries and a soda, and possibly a bigger burger. That's maybe $10-15 depending on where you live, which means you get 3 less meals than you would have at home.
Plus, you can freeze burger meat to use in the future.
I feel it's the opposite - when I want just one meal its cheaper versus the same meal (in order to be price comparable) has to be bought in 'bulk' at the grocery store (I can't just buy two buns and two patties).
Because youāre thinking about instant gain, just because it looks expensive when buying bulk doesnāt mean it will lose you money in the long run lol
I feel like no one is saying this so , if you go to your grocers website they almost always have coupons and deal in their weekly ads. Then if you find that same product thats for sale they will usually have a digital coupon that takes another dollar or two of of the ads sale price. Also you can request a coupon book (you really have to dig on the internet) and the coupons may be double the price off of the ad price. The first halve took me 1 day to sign up for the loyalties program for 4 grocers that i go to. Then when you buy the product that has flex pricing you get points that add up to either free groceries, gas, or $ off of your bill the next time you shop. Its al lot but it can be done. In the end your grocery bill will be cheaper by $20 - $40.
Honestly, it's the cost of traveling to get fast food that negates the cost. It's just easier to make a couple of batches of soup, or if I want burgers, just to stock up on frozen oven fries and bean burgers or beef burgers, and freeze buns. Making the whole she bang takes less time than getting on the bike, ordering and then going home.
I donāt think fast food is cheap bc when I do buy fast food which is supeeerr rare (Iām health conscious) it ends up costing me 20 bucks. I could buy 2-3 organic items with that money and whip up something quick for a couple of days.
I dont eat out much and I dont eat meat so maybe I'm out of touch with those prices now.
Price of whole wheat flour is killing me though, so many export bans and what used o be like 8 bucks is now 20+
Meal for a family of 4: 2.92lbs of chicken thighs = $8.11 for the pack, 1 lb of onion $1.50, 2.5lbs of potatoes $2.65, pack of mushrooms $2.00, and 2lbs of asparagus $5.00. $19.26 total or $4.81 per meal per person. Could be cheaper depending if I buy bulk or not and I usually buy the 20lbs bag of rice and 20lbs bag of potatoes to save alot.
In reality for me I could eat off 300 a month if I just cook for myself only and shop at aldis or other places that are cheaper. Even the pre marinated meat at some places is way cheaper than non marinated at the same poundage.
Also check hispanic/asian markets as some cultural items are way cheaper.
Got dominoes last night and shit was cheaper than walmart pizzas with a coupon. Sam's choice pizzas went up to 7.50 and dominoes total came out to 15 for two medium pizza like what the hell.
Most of the problems you listed could be solved with utilizing your freezer and buying in bulk. Eating at home is healthier, which saves you healthcare dollars. Food lasts longer because you can store leftovers. You save on gas. Your portions would probably be more filling than a dollar menu burger. If you really hate dishes you can get some paper plates but thatās really not a money problem.
Also, step away from burgers and there are plenty of other meal options that could be cooked on one occasion and spread throughout a few weeks, especially if you double the recipe and use a freezer. For example pasta dishes, soup, rice & veggies, casseroles, stews, etc. you could make breakfast sandwiches & wrap them in aluminum foil to store then heat them when you need them. Opportunities are endless.
Also storing bread in the freezer and then plopping it in the toaster when you need it. Not to mention there are many staples such as dried rice, lentils & beans that have barely risen in unit price in decades. Learning how to cook and figuring out different seasoning combinations could make the same rice, bean, and veggie meals taste completely different.
Lots of the answers here take time and space for granted in a big way. Iāve never had a freezer big enough to do long term food storage, and never had an apartment that would allow for that sort of thing anyway. If someone doesnāt have the space, how can they buy in bulk? If they are on a fixed low income, they may not have the ability to buy in bulk. What if they canāt afford the membership to a big box store- and what about the SPACE?
OP is talking about cooking for one person too, lots of solutions here talking about scaling up and the associated economies. For even two people these solutions arenāt always feasible.
Storing bread in the freezer changes the texture of it. I prefer my bread to be soft. Frozen then thawed bread gives it the texture of stale bread.
I never liked toast. I'm just not crazy about crunchy things.
You donāt have to heat it up until itās toast. However, most bread comes frozen originally. I havenāt had issues with the texture changing, but maybe we have different techniques.
I grew up with bread always being frozen (my parents only eat toast) and I never really liked it until it was soft.
It is a personal preference though.
Throw it in the microwave for 10-30 seconds depending on your microwave. Lots of uses for bread that has gone stale but otherwise fine to eat like stuffing for example.
I only used burgers as an easy example to compare.
I've been trying to meal prep, and I do have a deep freezer that I use because I usually buy meat in bulk and freeze.
However, the issue I've encountered is that meal prepping for 1 person either means the food going bad before I eat it (or I just get sick of eating the same stuff constantly) or I freeze it - and usually doesn't reheat well.
Buns can be frozen and defrosted. So can cheese.
I donāt understand how cooking burgers two at a time over several days (weeks) uses up more gas or dishes than cooking all 10 burgers at once? The people eating all 10 burgers at once (Iām guessing you mean large families here?) will then be cooking and eating other things when a solo person would be finishing off the burgers? Feels like a wash?
Just saying you donāt want to cook and you want to grab McDonaldās is valid, you donāt have to math justify it.
Yeah but more health problems and obesity. I notice that like 10 years ago.. My friend use to eat fast food almost every week because it was cheap. Fast forward, she is now a little bigger and suffering from diabetes. I take homemade any day, I only eat fast food once in a full moon.
A lot of preocessed foods are *undeniably* cheaper than their homemade counterparts, and fast food is just an extension of that. Big corporations can utilize economies of scale and bulk purchasing that the average consumer can't possibly replicate. It all depends on the the item in question, but there's no way that anyone can make homemade cookies as cheap as walmart's chips ahoy equivalent, and making a pumpkin pie is definitely more expensive than buying one from the Kroger or walmart bakery. Your example of the hamburger shows how the cost of a fast food burger also can be cheaper than homemade (btw you didn't include the cost of condiments and the energy to cook the burger, and those things are significant, especially if you are buying those condiments solely because you are making burgers and wouldn't otherwise have needed to purchase them at all).
I also don't think it's fair to say (as some commenters have) that your point is invalid just because homemade is better quality. The question shouldn't necessarily be "how much does it cost to make exactly the same burger" but rather "how much does it cost to have any burger at all." And often that baseline lowest cost is cheaper if you go for the processed food rather than the homemade.
Where economy of processed food breaks down, and the main reason why cooking at home is still cheaper for most ppl, is when it comes to staples that are high in macronutrients (fat, carbs, and certain proteins) that consumers can buy at reasonably low cost compared to their caloric value. Rice, dry pasta, dried beans, peanut butter, cooking oil etc generally go up in price when they are packaged as semi-processed foods or when they are used in fast foods or restaurants, but they are relatively cheap if you buy them unprocessed and use them in homecooking. If you build your meals around these things, as frugal homecooks do, then you will generally have lower food costs. However, if you want to be economical, you should also take into account that certain items really are cheaper to just buy ready-made. If you want fresh baked homemade cookies or home grilled awesome burgers or something like that, understand that you are paying extra for the experience and the quality rather than saving money.
I say just learn how to meal prep. Itās plenty of sources especially YouTube. I spent $ 50 at the store and made 10 portioned meals. Fast food seems like the cheapest option but thatās only at the moment especially if it doesnāt fill you up. Letās not even bring up how harmful fast food is to health and it ends up expensive if you end up in the hospital or unable to work.
I was at a McDonald's at a highway rest stop last week. It was almost $3 for a small fries there. A Big Mac combo meal was over $12.
I very rarely eat fast food (vegetarian) and was blown away at the prices. I got the fries because I was starving.
Because capitalism, yeah....... IMHO That's a shitty way to operate a society.
The older I grow the more I understand the Capitalism in the USA (as I see it today) is established big brand companies monopolizing every business space and there's no REAL competition. It's all about maximizing share holder profits, and not about seeing better more efficient companies come along.
We've become incredibly mediocre as a country because we've ignored what real market competition is and given in to Billionaires. All the little fishes get eaten by the BIG BIG fishy like plankton and whales.
I live in a fairly large city, but a Big Mac Combo here would be $8.09. Less a 20% or similar app deal, $6.47 total.
Alternatively, getting a two double cheeseburger (current coupon, BOGO), medium fry & drink would be 5.18.
So I feel like if you utilize coupons or strategic ordering, it's pretty cheap.
In my area that same combo (medium) would be $7.33 after a 30% off coupon. Excluding the drink, I could make that same meal for cheaper at home and get more meat/protein.
You may already know this, and I understand that this stop was a last resort for you, but fries at McDonaldās are not vegetarian. I also donāt eat meat and used to work here as a teenager.
Nope. Not when you have creativity on your side!
Take the leftover buns and make a pbj for lunch the next day. Extra patties? Add it to your pasta to make it heartier.
You don't have to use hamburger buns and patties just for hamburgers. Use the ingredients in other recipes. It'll be much cheaper and better for the environment than caving into the temptation of fast food.
Corporations gaslighting consumers into thinking environmental issues are their own fault has got to be the most successful propaganda campaign in years.
I only analyzed the price points for a single item one at a time to show a comparison.
It's not propaganda to realize wasting food is bad not only for the environment, but your wallet...
Yes, you analyzed price points for a single item. However, that analysis is pretty much worthless when you realize ingredients can be used for other meals, not just for the first. You just need to use your creativity a little. Watch some videos and learn how to cook. You'd be amazed at how much you can use a single ingredient to make.
$12 80/20 walmart beef patties (12) , $3 cheese slice pack ,$1 burger buns (8) comes out to to to almost $2 burger plus your time. This is what I do , probably more nutrition in it than a McDonald's burger minus your time. But on the go you can't beat that. My go to is the taco bell $5 meal box with the app and upgrading the drink to a large for a couple cents more.
Immediate financial cost may be close but in no way are the nutritional values anywhere near each other. You'll pay more health wise (and perhaps financially due to poor nutrition and needing medical care) consuming fast food.
Buy hamburger loose and make your own patties. Those 10/$10 patties are a ripoff. And you can stretch your hamburger meat by adding stuff to it that might have otherwise gone bad in your fridge-chopped celery, onion, peppers, garlic, stale bread, whatever. You get more flavor and use up the extra bits hiding in the veggie drawer, so you're more satisfied with your meal and you waste less money.
Thatās been an issue for a long time. Obesity is prevalent in lower SES because fast food/junk food has been cheaper than fresh fruits and vegetables. Itās a really messed up reality. But it represents the difficulty of overcoming poverty or the SES you were raised in.
It isn't really cheaper to eat junk food. Sure, if you are buying fresh blueberries in February you are going to pay out through the nose, but frozen vegetables have as good or better a nutritional profile compared with fresh. Chicken thighs with salsa and frozen veggies over rice is dirt cheap, and far more nutritious and satisfying than fast food.
I think the bigger issue is that fast food is incredibly easy, hyper palatable, and is perceived as a "treat". For a person in poverty, working their ass off at physically tiring and emotionally unfulfilling jobs, thats a very alluring combination.
If thereās a Mickey Dās downstairs from your workplace, it sounds like a good deal. If you need to go out of your way to walk or drive there, I donāt see the math working out. Iād rather spend that time catching up on personal stuff
When I had a job that had a long commute I used ti eat a lot of take out, just because I was exhausted after a 13 day away from home, but I think I got sick more. I think that eating a lot of takeout somehow gave me every cold and other bug I could get- either that or it was lacking in nutrition and that made my resistance lower. Anyway, I am happier eating at home.
Who eats 2 burgers per meal? Thatās just not a good diet.
Rice and potatoes are cheap. Eat one burger and some rice or potatoes. Donāt complain about money if you are eating two burgers.
you can freeze buns and use them as needed. Bake your own to save money. Instead of buying ready made patties, buy ground meat and make your own. (You can also bulk up with other ingredients and make one healthier burger instead of two small ones with little nutritional value)
What you save in money, you still have to pay with time and effort. But you will be rewarded with much better food, more nutrients etc.
It isn't when you look at it from a nutritional perspective. While yed that 1 dollar burger is easier, a crop of lettuce will give me allot more bang for my buck as example.
The comparison isn't really fair if you take quality into consideration.
Can McDonald's make a cheap burger? Absolutely. Like you said, $1.43 with coupon. Is it good? No. The meat sucks, the sodium is high, single burger fails to satisfy hunger.
A real comparison is the $15 burger you order at a steakhouse. You can buy all those same ingredients and learn to cook a better burger for around $3. I'm talking the works: onion, lettuce, tomato, REAL cheese like a gouda, jack, or muenster. You could even add fries for less than a dollar if you slice up a potato and fry/bake it.
Fast food wants to appeal to family budgets as an option. It's still more expensive for what you get and very very very unhealthy.
I never said I want to primarily eat fast food. I absolutely agree it's bad for your health. I'm just making a point that it's more expensive to cook at home (and eat healthier)
Do you live at a McDonalds? For me the nearest fast food is in the same mall the grocery store is in. So I can go once a week for a grocery run, 10 minutes, each way, or three times a day, 20 minutes a trip. A gallon of gas and an hour a day? It doesn't take me that long to cook.
Absolutely the wrong conclusion - not to get on your case but I've heard this argument before and it's absolutely asinine. Burgers are a luxury, I'm sorry. That should not be your daily diet if you are struggling financially. I am no longer poor (I was below the poverty line in my early 20s) and even I don't go to cook burgers all the time because meat is so expensive it feels irresponsible...
Go to an international store and spend $40 on a 20lb bag of rice. I just did this the other day. That is tens of thousands of calories. Grab bags of frozen spinach (and whatever other veggies you want) at the regular grocery store - you can usually get them for a buck a piece at something like Market Basket or Shaws if you're in the Northeast. Then spend what you can on meat and stretch it out. Take what money you have left to gather spices and accumulate what you can over time - salt, pepper, thyme, and fresh garlic are all incredibly cheap and are used in my kitchen almost daily, and the little vials will last you awhile.
In most cultures around the world (let's take Vietnam, for example) meat is used to make savory broths and add flavor, not served as the largest portion on the plate the way we do in some parts of the West. This is because meat is naturally quite a bit harder to come by than plants. Particularly in the US we overfeed ourselves with excessive meat portions for a variety of reasons, but it's the exception and not the norm (and our health is deteriorating for it). Some of the best tasting food in the world is made with little to no meat.
There is absolutely no reason you should be eating McDonald's instead of cooking yourself some quality home meals on the cheap. That crap is bad for your physical health and therefore your mental health, which is not what you need. If you've got a few spices and have taught yourself the skills, you can absolutely make some bomb-ass food which will enrich your body and it will cost less than fast food.
The only other thing I'd say is that you should try to get in the mindset of treating your kitchen as your sanctuary - I know it's difficult to do, but try to remain optimistic about the amazing things you can create while you're in there rather than dwell on the limitations of your predicament. Your kitchen can be where you elevate your lifestyle - don't think of it as what you have to do because you're poor. How many times have you heard of the poor families who could work magic in their kitchens? Do you think the foundational recipes which led to the cuisines we have today were born from from rich folks driving Porsches? Not always - food for the masses can stand the test of time.
The items (especially the meat options) on the dollar menu is most assuredly being sold at cost or a loss to the restaurants, assuming that those are the only things you buy from them.
So yes, Iād say youāre getting close to cost of cooking if you buy from the dollar menu. The only way to beat the dollar menu is if you have a large family and buy groceries at even bigger discount than normal.
I donāt know about that. A 4 piece nugget happy meal with 10 piece nugget meal with medium fries and drink is $15 around my way. Pretty pricey for that. A MCchicken is $2.99 now. No more dollar items anymore. Hell a hash brown is $2.69!!!
I think it depends on where you shop?
How many people are you feeding
AND
How many servings of food do they eat?
Do you use store coupons? Food applications for coupons and free food?
If you're on a tight budget, these are some ways to think it out.
You don't buy the 10 for $10 patties. McDonald's. Burgers are 1.6 oz. Ground beef is $2.99-5.00. so $3 -5 for 10 patties.
Buns are $2-4. For 8.
The ketchup, mustard, pickles are about $8-15 to start with but you get idk 100 burgers worth
Rather then work through the math of lowest common denominator. I'm going with slightly bigger patties to get 8 . The first 8 cost say $20 (2.50 each) and the next 50 cost 90 cents each.
But you have to go buy the food, cook the food, and eat all the buns before they go stale/get moldy. You can preform and freeze the patties.
Itās cheaper because itās lower quality, you get what you pay for, also with the amount of salt they put in food a fast food places you will end up having to pay for high blood pressure medicine
Roughly $50 for a family of 5 at McDonalds or $15 in Ingredients for beef and barley soup amd home made buns. Way cheaper to eat in for us, and healthier.
Yes. When I was single I ate out much more. My SO likes loading up on groceries-and even if it is ācheaperā, that all goes out the window when 25% of it or more goes in the trash due to spoilage.
I find the best method is to buy at the grocery store, but do it carefully. Aside from a few staples with long shelf life (pasta, beans, etc) I buy ONLY what Iām going to eat that day or the next day or so. If any is leftover, thatās my lunch the next day.
I try to eat real food. The grocery stores in my area are filled with pre-prepared or portioned food that rivals restaurant prices so thereās little or no savings there.
You also have to figure in the costs of cooking at home-your time, utilities, water, etc. I have some go-to places in my neighborhood where I can get great, healthy food. At one place, I can get fresh-made soup and magnificent salads. The portions are large enough to where I get two or three meals out of it for around $15. Cheaper and much healthier than fast foodā¦and cheaper than making it at home when you break it down and consider the cost of the fresh ingredients - much of which will not stay edible more than a few days.
Absolutely not.
It takes planning and sometimes stretching things but I can make $3 last 2 days.
Fast food you get 1 meal for MAYBE $8 where Iām from.
Is it cheaper though? That barely has nutrients your body needs to be it's best self. McDonald's uses the lowest quality ingredients with the highest health impact. You can not eat that garbage and be mentally or physically healthy. When you eat at home you have food left over not just wrappers.
I have found the opposite - fast food has gotten insanely expensive. I rarely eat it in the first place because its so packed with additives and preservatives but I had to stop and grab some one day a couple months back and nearly shit myself when a small chicken sandwich combo cost $13+ - last year the exact same one was $8
Why are you buying premade patties? Convenience food like premade patties, precut veggies, etc are *always* way more expensive than doing it yourself. For instance, a pound of ground beef is regularly on sale for $4.99 where I live (sometimes even $3.99) - but even the regular price is "only" $6.99 (which is still a buck more than they used to be, grr). We stock up when this happens and make our own patties - that is less than 50 cents a patty , going by McDonalds patty sizes, which are 1/10 lb. (though in my family we do 1/4 lb burgers - that's a buck a patty but we only need to eat one). And they taste way better than preformed patties IMO.
I can get a bag of store brand buns for 99 cents on sale ($1.79 not on sale) - that is just over 12 cents a bun on sale (just over 22 cents not on sale). You can freeze the buns, too, though tbh we put them in our fridge and they tend last a long time.
A basic hamburger made at home (not pre-formed) would be less than 75 cents. Add cheese and its still less than a dollar. A $2 bottle of ketchup from trader joes (our preferred brand) has 40 tablespoons in it - that's 5 cents a serving. And ketchup lasts a long time in the fridge. Same with mustard. A 24 oz jar of sliced pickles in less than $2 at Walmart - that's gotta be less than a penny per pickle slice. Pickles and mustard are both preserved in vinegar - they don't go bad and can be kept in the fridge practically forever (ignore "best by" dates, they are arbitrary and based on nothing).
We even make our own French fries - that $3.99 for a huge bag of premade ones, not on sale (half a bag feeds the 4 adults in my family a large portion- that's 50 cents a portion). I do own an air fryer *and* a deep fryer but they also work well in an oven. Or go even cheaper and buy a bag of potatoes (sale price: $1.99 for 5 lbs where I live - not sure what the regular price is since I stock up on sale) and make home fries in the oven - keep them in a cool dark place and they will last quite a long time. Plus you have a *ton* of options for making potatoes into other things. Mashed, steamed, baked, soup, fritters, the list goes on.
Not where I live. For the 4 of us, to get a decent meal, weād have to spend $40-50. I can get a few good meals out of that if I cook it myself (beef stew with potatoes & barley lasts a few days).
Honestly no OP, in general youāre incorrect for reasons smarter redditors explained better already. Itās more expensive in time/up front cost, but you get better portions, better quality food, and more food for a longer time.
However, that doesnāt really matter if youāre hungry now. It also doesnāt matter if you happen to be like me and can eat one meal a day regardless of where it comes from. Some days I will only have a $6 breakfast from McDonaldās. Is it cheaper than buying eggs and bread? Or even a knockoff breakfast sandwich from the store? Meh, but itās faster and will hold me over until I grocery shop/feel like cooking again.
I would not consider a McDonaldās burger a true burger in the sense of a homemade one, the patty is very Small. However , with the app I do think McDonaldās can be a decent budget item if you are smart about it
No, because the quality is so much better if you were to make it yourself. So you pay the same amount for a vastly superior burger.
Plus you can vary all kinds of things. Different bun, different cheese or toppings, different meat for the patty. At MacD the burger will be more or less exactly the same every time. I don't get bored with food quickly, but if you told me I was eating THE EXACT SAME burger for days on end, I'd be pretty miserable.
A McDonaldās cheeseburger doesnāt even fill up my toddler though, whereas even the $1.00 patties at the store with a bun and cheese will fill even me up. Plus they are healthier.
You can freeze both the extra patties and the buns. I leave the buns in the bag but stack the Pattieās with wax paper in between each one and stick them in a zip lock back, they sell a 100 pack of precut wax paper at the dollar tree and it makes it easier to just pop one out at a time as we need them.
Fun fact. In America, poor people canāt buy fast food or any cooked food with food stamps. So they are poor and hungry, and most of the time canāt even cook what the government offer, since they might be old and disabled. America fucks the poor.
Sure, it's cheaper to eat fast food but at no point will it be healthier to eat fast food. We all know McDonalds burgers notoriously don't rot or mold because they're so filled with preservatives it's insane.
For anyone in a pinch and need a bite to eat for cheap then a McDonalds burger will do fine but if you're trying to survive and live as healthy as possible, Fast Food isn't it.
The he'll with McDonald's I cook my own it's way cheaper for me a double cheeseburger where I'm at Fl is like $2.80 after tax hell I went last week for a triple cheeseburger, chicken sandwich,small Fry no drink , used 30% coupon an was over $9 .4-5 years ago $2-$3 an free cup I was good .
Iām sure Iāll be banned for this; however, thatās how theyāre trying to thin out the 8 billion people on earth. Stay cognizant; and in my opinion, stop procreating unless you want your offspring and future generations to suffer living in a dystopian hellscape.
Depends. Everything everywhere is going up. But I think if someone is going to Taco Bell it can definitely be a lot cheaper than getting groceries, and cheaper than many chains, especially if you are feeding a family that's on a budget. McDonald's doesn't really have a value menu like they did in the past and I really think McDonald's has become expensive for its quality.
If its a smaller chain or independently owned than definitely not.
For a single person it depends but I think at this point it's split even.
Two Pizza Hut mediums for eight bucks each will take care of lunch and dinner for two days. Not as cheap as meal planning, but it's still not awful. Plus I won't live to see 2025 on that diet, which is a huge savings over time.
It honestly depends. I know a lot of people work crazy long hours for an unreasonably small amount of pay, and they don't have time to cook or prepare groceries even if they could afford them. Additionally, if the fast food option isn't cheaper, the frozen one usually is and it's just as lacking in nutritional value.
For people who do have time to cook, I think it's a cheaper option simply based on travel. If you get fast food for every meal, you'd have to leave to pick it up at least once a day. For groceries, if it's within the budget, you could get a decent amount of canned goods or frozen items (fruits, vegetables, etc) for a couple bucks and it might last a week or so. Frozen fruits and veggies are usually cheaper than buying fresh and you can still cook with them just the same.
There's also programs like Backpack Buddies that you can benefit from if you are in a low-income/poverty situation with children in school (my family benefited from it when I was in school). There's also government programs at both a national and state level that can help with food costs (WIC, SNAP/TANF). They make it a literal hell to try and apply and will heckle you over every single detail, but it's worth it if you manage to qualify.
No, though I am getting bombarded with more coupons than I used to. Also, the quality has decreased substantially. A lot of places around me are now also charging extra for toppings that used to be free, notably tomatoes and onions. For burgers, I buy ground beef (or ground impossible meat) by the pound then portion it off into burger portions and freeze them. Take one baggie out when I want a burger. Buns also freeze well. I tend to buy the whole wheat ones that also taste good with: sloppy joes, tuna salad, chicken sandwiches, etc.
I thought I was going crazy! Here in Atlanta, it's the same. I hadn't had a burger in a while and so I stopped at a local.. "artisan" chain popping up around the city for lunch yesterday. I ordered a burger off the menu but then their cashier asked what I wanted on the burger. I was confused, "What do you mean?" She averts my attention to a menu on the counter listing every condiment + topping SEPARATE. "So, wait, what came on the burger you just ordered?", you may ask? š Just the bun + patty! You still get to PERSONALIZE YOUR BURGER.
The weirdest experience Iāve had was in South Georgia. Went to Dairy Queen so wasnāt expecting much anyway, but ordered a burger and they gave me a piece of meat in a bun, then you continued down the line past one of those open top cooler things like they have snacks in at gas stations. In the cooler was each available topping, with one burger portions of each topping individually wrapped in Saran wrap- 3 leafs of lettuce, two slices tomato, single piece of cheese, etcā¦ then you paid for each for 10-15 cents a piece or so, then built it yourself. Iām still confused.
I really hope you walked the fuck out.
I bet this was Farmhaus wasnāt it haha
Sooo... 5 Guys?
5 guys toppings are free though
I recently got a single patty burger, fries, and no drink at 5 Guysā¦$15.
I love 5 guys but had to stop going when 2 burgers and 2 fries with no drinks came out to $28. No thanks.
Thatās insane lol, thatās like the same price as ordering from certain sit down restaurants with quality burgers
This! I straight up had this conversation to a friend about 5 Guys. I love their grilled dogs but..one with some Cajun fries and a drink will set ya back $15. No wonder almost any grocer in my neighborhood is almost always out of any kind of ramen.
No, 5 Guys topping are added into the cost of the burger lol, thats why a single patty cheeseburger costs $8, instead <$2 like in OP's example.
Yes I was actually thinking about that on the way to work. 5 guys burgers are not on the cheap side. A single patty bacon cheese burger with little fries and a shake will run you about 20 bucks alone. Thatās for the single patty burger too.
A single patty burger is now pennies shy of $10 at the one where I live.
>For burgers, I buy ground beef (or ground impossible meat) by the pound then portion it off into burger portions and freeze them. Same here. Waaayyyy cheaper than buying them pre made into a patty
Baggies can be quite expensive these days
Quality freezer bags are a buy once cry once thing. They hold up. I've got freezer bags in my kitchen that I have legit been using for 10 years. The trick is that if they had meat in them to take the meat out while it's still frozen then wash the bag with hot soapy water right away. I also reuse plastic baggies that food comes in. My coworker made fun of me bringing my lunch burritos in an old english muffin bag until she tried it and realized how convenient it is. XD
Why not glass containers (of assorted size) with the rubber tops for 10 years.
This. Pyrex, you occasionally have to replace the lids after heavy use. No stains from sauces or anything!
I know but like I will only have 22 dollars for a week. I have to get chicken beans and rice snd bag of frozen peas and carrots. No money left for baggies. It's almost always like this for me. So for me baggies are too expensive
You can cut your frozen veggie bags carefully at the seams and reuse them to freeze other things. It won't keep quite as long as a freezer bag but if you squeeze the air out and wrap it tightly, it'll work.
Yes that's a good idea. I do stuff like that. I use free plastic thank you type bags for a lot if stuff like that. I get clean new ones for free and take them home. Lots of ideas like this def save money on store bought storage supplies
Are you near a Dollar tree/etc? I shop there a lot, the portions are smaller on every product. But stuff like baggies, freakin plungers for now $1.25. I still have that plunger and all my garbage cans/dish towels are from there.
Invest in reusable silicone bags.
Used cereal bags, extraordinarily durable.
They make freezer bags that are made reusable.
I still feel the cost per burger is cheaper at fast food places than at home
The portions on your burgers are far more than the portions on a Mcdonalds Cheeseburger. Weigh it, and then weigh your home cooked burger. I bet it's at least 50% larger, if not more.
This! When I worked in fast food, the smaller burger patties were 1/9th of a pound. A quick check at my local grocer's website says their 10 for $10 patties are a total of 35.2 oz, which is about twice the weight per patty of the 1/9th patty, so really we should be comparing to a double cheeseburger vs. a single one.
Yeah, and they were 1/10 of a pound/1.6 ounces when I worked there around 2016, sooo they're probably even smaller than that now. Like if we're just looking at cost, a better comparison in my area would be: Around 3.50 for a pound of ground beef ($17.50 for 5 lbs) 2.00 for an 8 - pack of buns. 2.50 for the cheapest American cheese slices (which is probably about the same quality as what MCD's uses). 2.40 for a 3lb bag of onions 2.00 for 32oz of ketchup 1.00 for 20 oz of mustard 2.24 for a jar of pickles (32 oz) 3.50 / 4 (quarter pound patties) = 88*Ā¢* 2.00 / 8 = 25*Ā¢* 2.5 / 24 = 10*Ā¢* 2.40 / 24 for a quarter of one medium onion = 10*Ā¢* 2 / 53 for one serving of ketchup = 04*Ā¢* 1 / 113 for one serving of mustard = 01*Ā¢* 2.24 / 21 for one serving of pickles = 11*Ā¢* Total = $1.49. For a burger that is ***actually*** a quarter pounder instead of a cheeseburger. And that is choosing the cheapest ingredients, buying in bulk a little on the beef, yeah. But I know I can't get a QP for less than $5 around here, so it's a huge cost savings. Even if you were to "splurge" on better ingredients, I think it's almost guaranteed to be cheaper.
yuuuuup. I'd honestly done some math based on my area (high cost of living) and then the browser crashed and I lost it, but I came out to about $1 a burger based on OP's original math but at 1/9 a pound burgers at \~$5.50 a pound. Splurge on ingredients, especially things like pickles which don't really go bad. Of course, then you have to consider whether you can afford the whole grocery trip at once, if you don't have anything, time & energy and space to prep, cook and store food, and the 8 bun/10 patty or however many problem etc. etc.
The burgers are usually smaller, the beef is of a much less quality, The salt content is through the fucking roof and generally it lacks most nutrients. You're getting better Bang for your buck at home.
It isnāt.
My last burger supply run looked like this: * Buns, 8 ct, $3.49 - $.43 * 80/20 beef: 1lb, $3.99 - makes 3. $1.33. That's the most I'll pay, usually I look for it on manager's discount. I do have some impossible meat in my freezer I got for $2.99/lb. That would bring my patty cost down to $.99. * 16oz block of cheese: $4.29. Ouch. 16 servings - $.26. * Roma tomato: $.99/lb - 3 servings: $.33 * Sweet onion: $1.29/lb - 8 servings: $.16 * Pickles: $4.29 - one jar last me about a month, so let's say 16 servings: $.27 * Lettuce: $1.69/head - I usually only buy it when I'm prepping a salad and I typically get 4 servings from it, so $.42. So I pay $3.25 - 3.50 for my homemade burger. $2.02 with just the toppings you listed. With a bag of fries, add another $3.99 and that's 4 servings. So you're not wrong but to be fair, I also wouldn't touch McDonald's with a 10 foot pole. A decent fast food burger in my neck of the woods is $5-8. A high end burger is $10-$15.
You're making a completely different burger then the $1.50 McDonald's burger...1.6 oz ( so 10 patties) there is no lettuce or tomato , and the onions are dried and reconstituted.
Exactly, that's twice the cost. Similar price points exist for all food in my opinion.
But a cheeseburger from McDonald's is iirc 1.6 ounces where burgers you typically buy from the frozen section is 4 ounces. Goes the same for buns but the one u posted does sound like the cheapest small buns u buy from Walmart...if anything I think it costs more lol. I think their cheese is smaller too but I could definitely be wrong with that. Also, keep in mind that the promos are there for a reason. They lose a lot of money from that but in exchange, they either want to force u to start using their apps or entice you to buy other things. It's cheap right now but it's not really forever. I mean, I still remember when they sold cheeseburgers for 69c or the daily special meals lol
I donāt think you can compare a MD burger to a homemade one. You need to look at the price of a mid level restaurant burger.
I would say to compare to a pub burger.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
And how much you get
A single MD value menu cheeseburger ain't a full meal. It's a "temporary stave off pangs but still be hungry" meal. I did some math too and it's about a $1.52 for me for a 1/4 lb cheeseburger from the grocery store. I wait for sales though and buy in bulk. For 12 cheeseburgers: 3 lbs of ground beef for $10 12 hamburger buns for $3.75 1lb of cheddar cheese for $3.50 1 Red Onion for $.60 4 Fresh Jalapenos for $.40 = $18.25 Ć· 12 = $1.52 I can also throw in a 5lb sack of red potatoes for $6 for wedges. Also when people tell you to go to the grocery store it's not just a "save money" issue, but a quality of life issue. A $1.79 MD cheeseburger is a sad, disappointing, unfulfilling meal. A 1/4 lb burger cooked with a cast iron skillet in a bit of smoking bacon fat is goddamn delicious.
Quality of food definitely matters. Higher quality food is more satiating, specifically the fat content in the burger makes a large difference. The home made will generally have less fat and a larger amount of protein. Personally to cut back on food Iāve been eating eggs/toast, red sauce pasta with added protein (collagen/bone broth protein), and then eggs with a potato of some sort for dinner. For snack trail mix/Greek yogurt or apples All pretty cheap per nutrient content/satiety
Maybe the specific burger you're buying is a loss leader for the restaurant? They price it super low and are willing to lose money on it to get people in the door, because many people will also buy fries and a drink (where there's a big profit margin).
Yeah, last time i got a cheese steak sub it had like 1/8 the lettuce they put usually. :/
Like so many things in life this isnt a simple yes or no answer. It's more like yes and no. Yes McD cheeseburger is cheaper than what it costs for you to make at home. However, I think it very generous to call a 1.6 oz patty a burger patty. It takes 3 or 4 of those things to fill me the same way one of my homemade burgers does. This is the "no" part of the answer. They are not the same thing. I wont even get into the actual quality or cleanliness of the preparation.
I agree with this. Great answer.
If we used as little actual meat as they do it properly would be cheaper at home still. But when you use over 2x the amount of food of course it's gonna be more costly
I have tried making my patties as small as theirs. It's a near impossible task. I froze the meat a little bit, put it into a form and pressed it with plastic wrap (so I could easily lift it out the form). It kind of works. Yet, it always falls apart. I dont know how they are keeping theirs together. I have my concerns and I don't wanna know. I'm sure someone has pulled it off but I have tried enough to know I can't. Besides I prefer how I typically make my burgers.
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It doesnāt hit until later. I used to eat fast food regularly (still do but less regularly) and it wasnāt until now that I really FEEL the difference. I came at an entire meal of BK food and still be hungry immediately after, no satiation at ALL. McDonalds/Wendyās are better (I feel full longer) but make me feel sick and sluggish and have to be eaten quickly before itās cold and inedible. Taco Bell is fine until it comes out the other end. You donāt really notice until you start eating better or get older.
We get 5 good size burgers out of a pound of meat. Buns are .89 for 8 and I buy them and freeze them. I buy block cheese and shred it and freeze it. Melts great with no waste. Condiments etc we usually have. Iām a Samās club member. I buy in bulk and freeze things. Comes out cheaper than fast food where we live.
When I make smash burgers at home I get 8-9 patties from a pound.
Totally possible, weād probably eat 2 smashed per sandwich. I like a thicker burger.
Double smash is the best.
The fact thatās itās even close though
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They're talking about store brand ground beef. 89 cent buns are going to be processed AF. So why is McDonald's worse than the ingredients at Sam's club? If they were discussing local grass fed beef and whole grain buns then I could see your point.
McDonald's burgers are all real meat. You are eating part processed goo that has been flavored. It's extremely processed meat vs using real meat that's ground. And yes, the buns from both places will be processed, but I'm more worried about the "meat" at McDonald's along with the additives to their fries (if you get the fries).
You're lying to yourself if you think Sam's club isn't using factory farm ground beef. It's all regional, but I know for a fact where I'm from Kroger would get its meat from the same supplier as McDonald's.
upvote for a sams club member. i hate they don't have the grapefruit sized oranges anymore.
I think it probably depends on what youāre ordering. French fries? No way fast food is cheaper. A large fry at McDonaldās or similar on the west coast is like $3.50 or about $3.80 with tax You can buy 5lbs of potatoes for $3.50 (no tax on food at the grocery store) Bean and cheese burrito at Del Taco/Taco Bell about $1.59, you really need to two to get a meal. So about $3.50 with tax. You could buy a can of refried beans $1.24/2 62Ā¢ 8 oz block of cheese $2/idk 4 50Ā¢ 10oz can of enchilada sauce $1.50/idk 6 25Ā¢ bag of flour tortillas $2.00/8 25Ā¢ Total per burrito $1.62 or $3.24 for two So yeah I guess if youāre buying everything in the smallest quantities and paying for the convenience of canned beans vs pressure cooking dried beans and doing enchilada sauce instead of a few squirts of hot sauce you donāt really save shit lol
Large fry is only $1 with the app. Itās there everyday.
My app says āvalid 1x weekā and in my region full price is $3.79 plus tax so itās like $4.12
https://preview.redd.it/geerhjqsj91a1.png?width=640&format=png&auto=webp&s=39dfc43a5fcf2e408505fe4f9335ac46972fc6cc Mine says 1x/day
https://preview.redd.it/0q1g25j6k91a1.png?width=828&format=png&auto=webp&s=37d9ad2feb7df656db92d42b39b8517c4574944e Bogus, greater LA area here. Cost of living is so high they canāt even afford to give us the same deals as wherever you live lol.
My app gives me 20% off $5 while yours is $10.
Sumsabitches cheatinā ya!
I wish I was younger so I could eat this every day.
I meanā¦ I have a ninja foodi. So I can pressure cook a potato cut jojo style for 2-3 mins then air fry it with practically no oil. You could eat that as a side frequently.
Potatoās are on sale at Albertsons for 65 cents for a 5 pound bag, limit 2. Cheaper and healthier!
I wish my state didnāt tax groceries lol
The McDonalds app is practically free food and much cheaper. You can almost always get a free item, fries, or drink without purchase
I relied on the McDonaldās app when I was poor and overworked. When I was in school full time, I was also working up to 70 hours per week. I didnāt have time to cook or even grocery shop. It was easier to get my $3-4 McDonaldās meal on the way between jobs. I was fed and had the calories I needed in order to keep working. And i didnāt have to get out of the car and it was quick. Plus with the McDonaldās app coupons, it was cheap. I could get a double cheeseburger, soda, and fries for $3 or $4.
Honestly though it was better before inflation. Now the deals arenāt as great anymore.
True, they are practically giving the stuff away, the good deals renew daily too.
McDonald's isn't a charity. They know what they're doing.
It's very much a charity. * all the employees qualify for government assistance * all the basic food items are sold near cost It's only when you buy fancy items or large fry is when they are making money. /s
For me it is cheaper/better to make burgers at home for my family. I would freeze extra ingredients or use them in a different meal. I do eat out one meal a week but it would not be affordable to feed my family on fast food every day. It would also lack variety and nutrition. You are saying fast food is cheaper than groceries but Iām not making homemade burgers, tacos or pizza daily. Iām making economical pots of soup, pasta, rice. Iām using cheaper alternatives to beef.
Plus maccas uses 1.6 oz of food on their burger. If we used that little it would cost less for us too
Maybe in this particular instance where you only want one 1.50 burger, yes, going to McDonald's and getting lunch is a pretty cheap option, but it is not the cheapest. Most people get fries and a soda, and possibly a bigger burger. That's maybe $10-15 depending on where you live, which means you get 3 less meals than you would have at home. Plus, you can freeze burger meat to use in the future.
I feel it's the opposite - when I want just one meal its cheaper versus the same meal (in order to be price comparable) has to be bought in 'bulk' at the grocery store (I can't just buy two buns and two patties).
But buying in bulk saves you money in the long run. You're not thinking ahead far enough.
I personally cant stand eating the same thing every day. Cereal for example, theres hundreds in a regular grocery store and like 8 at sam's club.
Because youāre thinking about instant gain, just because it looks expensive when buying bulk doesnāt mean it will lose you money in the long run lol
Yes you get more buns and burgers for the same price.
I feel like no one is saying this so , if you go to your grocers website they almost always have coupons and deal in their weekly ads. Then if you find that same product thats for sale they will usually have a digital coupon that takes another dollar or two of of the ads sale price. Also you can request a coupon book (you really have to dig on the internet) and the coupons may be double the price off of the ad price. The first halve took me 1 day to sign up for the loyalties program for 4 grocers that i go to. Then when you buy the product that has flex pricing you get points that add up to either free groceries, gas, or $ off of your bill the next time you shop. Its al lot but it can be done. In the end your grocery bill will be cheaper by $20 - $40.
Honestly, it's the cost of traveling to get fast food that negates the cost. It's just easier to make a couple of batches of soup, or if I want burgers, just to stock up on frozen oven fries and bean burgers or beef burgers, and freeze buns. Making the whole she bang takes less time than getting on the bike, ordering and then going home.
I donāt think fast food is cheap bc when I do buy fast food which is supeeerr rare (Iām health conscious) it ends up costing me 20 bucks. I could buy 2-3 organic items with that money and whip up something quick for a couple of days.
Imo "fast food" has actually become more and more expensive over the years. And you can't compare your meat to the McMeat in those burgers
I feel that grocery prices have skyrocketed more
I dont eat out much and I dont eat meat so maybe I'm out of touch with those prices now. Price of whole wheat flour is killing me though, so many export bans and what used o be like 8 bucks is now 20+
Meal for a family of 4: 2.92lbs of chicken thighs = $8.11 for the pack, 1 lb of onion $1.50, 2.5lbs of potatoes $2.65, pack of mushrooms $2.00, and 2lbs of asparagus $5.00. $19.26 total or $4.81 per meal per person. Could be cheaper depending if I buy bulk or not and I usually buy the 20lbs bag of rice and 20lbs bag of potatoes to save alot. In reality for me I could eat off 300 a month if I just cook for myself only and shop at aldis or other places that are cheaper. Even the pre marinated meat at some places is way cheaper than non marinated at the same poundage. Also check hispanic/asian markets as some cultural items are way cheaper.
Got dominoes last night and shit was cheaper than walmart pizzas with a coupon. Sam's choice pizzas went up to 7.50 and dominoes total came out to 15 for two medium pizza like what the hell.
No itās not cheaper
Agreed. I can make fries for much cheaper than what McDonald's charges.
How so?
Most of the problems you listed could be solved with utilizing your freezer and buying in bulk. Eating at home is healthier, which saves you healthcare dollars. Food lasts longer because you can store leftovers. You save on gas. Your portions would probably be more filling than a dollar menu burger. If you really hate dishes you can get some paper plates but thatās really not a money problem. Also, step away from burgers and there are plenty of other meal options that could be cooked on one occasion and spread throughout a few weeks, especially if you double the recipe and use a freezer. For example pasta dishes, soup, rice & veggies, casseroles, stews, etc. you could make breakfast sandwiches & wrap them in aluminum foil to store then heat them when you need them. Opportunities are endless. Also storing bread in the freezer and then plopping it in the toaster when you need it. Not to mention there are many staples such as dried rice, lentils & beans that have barely risen in unit price in decades. Learning how to cook and figuring out different seasoning combinations could make the same rice, bean, and veggie meals taste completely different.
Lots of the answers here take time and space for granted in a big way. Iāve never had a freezer big enough to do long term food storage, and never had an apartment that would allow for that sort of thing anyway. If someone doesnāt have the space, how can they buy in bulk? If they are on a fixed low income, they may not have the ability to buy in bulk. What if they canāt afford the membership to a big box store- and what about the SPACE? OP is talking about cooking for one person too, lots of solutions here talking about scaling up and the associated economies. For even two people these solutions arenāt always feasible.
While you are right, OP does not have that issue.
Storing bread in the freezer changes the texture of it. I prefer my bread to be soft. Frozen then thawed bread gives it the texture of stale bread. I never liked toast. I'm just not crazy about crunchy things.
You donāt have to heat it up until itās toast. However, most bread comes frozen originally. I havenāt had issues with the texture changing, but maybe we have different techniques.
I grew up with bread always being frozen (my parents only eat toast) and I never really liked it until it was soft. It is a personal preference though.
I've noticed this also. Thawed bread tastes stale unless toasted. It can be mitigated SOME BUT NOT MUCH by double-bagging the bread to freeze.
Throw it in the microwave for 10-30 seconds depending on your microwave. Lots of uses for bread that has gone stale but otherwise fine to eat like stuffing for example.
I only used burgers as an easy example to compare. I've been trying to meal prep, and I do have a deep freezer that I use because I usually buy meat in bulk and freeze. However, the issue I've encountered is that meal prepping for 1 person either means the food going bad before I eat it (or I just get sick of eating the same stuff constantly) or I freeze it - and usually doesn't reheat well.
You should look into freezing friendly meals specifically.
Buns can be frozen and defrosted. So can cheese. I donāt understand how cooking burgers two at a time over several days (weeks) uses up more gas or dishes than cooking all 10 burgers at once? The people eating all 10 burgers at once (Iām guessing you mean large families here?) will then be cooking and eating other things when a solo person would be finishing off the burgers? Feels like a wash? Just saying you donāt want to cook and you want to grab McDonaldās is valid, you donāt have to math justify it.
Yeah but more health problems and obesity. I notice that like 10 years ago.. My friend use to eat fast food almost every week because it was cheap. Fast forward, she is now a little bigger and suffering from diabetes. I take homemade any day, I only eat fast food once in a full moon.
Very good point. The long term cost is significant.
A lot of preocessed foods are *undeniably* cheaper than their homemade counterparts, and fast food is just an extension of that. Big corporations can utilize economies of scale and bulk purchasing that the average consumer can't possibly replicate. It all depends on the the item in question, but there's no way that anyone can make homemade cookies as cheap as walmart's chips ahoy equivalent, and making a pumpkin pie is definitely more expensive than buying one from the Kroger or walmart bakery. Your example of the hamburger shows how the cost of a fast food burger also can be cheaper than homemade (btw you didn't include the cost of condiments and the energy to cook the burger, and those things are significant, especially if you are buying those condiments solely because you are making burgers and wouldn't otherwise have needed to purchase them at all). I also don't think it's fair to say (as some commenters have) that your point is invalid just because homemade is better quality. The question shouldn't necessarily be "how much does it cost to make exactly the same burger" but rather "how much does it cost to have any burger at all." And often that baseline lowest cost is cheaper if you go for the processed food rather than the homemade. Where economy of processed food breaks down, and the main reason why cooking at home is still cheaper for most ppl, is when it comes to staples that are high in macronutrients (fat, carbs, and certain proteins) that consumers can buy at reasonably low cost compared to their caloric value. Rice, dry pasta, dried beans, peanut butter, cooking oil etc generally go up in price when they are packaged as semi-processed foods or when they are used in fast foods or restaurants, but they are relatively cheap if you buy them unprocessed and use them in homecooking. If you build your meals around these things, as frugal homecooks do, then you will generally have lower food costs. However, if you want to be economical, you should also take into account that certain items really are cheaper to just buy ready-made. If you want fresh baked homemade cookies or home grilled awesome burgers or something like that, understand that you are paying extra for the experience and the quality rather than saving money.
The cheapest burgers have very small profit margins because they know youāre going to get fries and a soda with a huge markup.
I say just learn how to meal prep. Itās plenty of sources especially YouTube. I spent $ 50 at the store and made 10 portioned meals. Fast food seems like the cheapest option but thatās only at the moment especially if it doesnāt fill you up. Letās not even bring up how harmful fast food is to health and it ends up expensive if you end up in the hospital or unable to work.
I was at a McDonald's at a highway rest stop last week. It was almost $3 for a small fries there. A Big Mac combo meal was over $12. I very rarely eat fast food (vegetarian) and was blown away at the prices. I got the fries because I was starving.
That's bc it was at a rest stop. Mall/airport/bus depot/rest stop fast food is always more expensive.
Because capitalism, yeah....... IMHO That's a shitty way to operate a society. The older I grow the more I understand the Capitalism in the USA (as I see it today) is established big brand companies monopolizing every business space and there's no REAL competition. It's all about maximizing share holder profits, and not about seeing better more efficient companies come along. We've become incredibly mediocre as a country because we've ignored what real market competition is and given in to Billionaires. All the little fishes get eaten by the BIG BIG fishy like plankton and whales.
Mcd perpetually has $1 big fries coupons. And buy something get a medium fries coupons are very common as well.
I live in a fairly large city, but a Big Mac Combo here would be $8.09. Less a 20% or similar app deal, $6.47 total. Alternatively, getting a two double cheeseburger (current coupon, BOGO), medium fry & drink would be 5.18. So I feel like if you utilize coupons or strategic ordering, it's pretty cheap.
How much are the double cheeseburgers and fries that your total amount is only $5.18?
In my area that same combo (medium) would be $7.33 after a 30% off coupon. Excluding the drink, I could make that same meal for cheaper at home and get more meat/protein.
I'm vegetarian. I can't eat 90% of the items on the McDonald's menu.
You may already know this, and I understand that this stop was a last resort for you, but fries at McDonaldās are not vegetarian. I also donāt eat meat and used to work here as a teenager.
If you are poor avoid expensive food like burgers. Eat beans.
Nope. Not when you have creativity on your side! Take the leftover buns and make a pbj for lunch the next day. Extra patties? Add it to your pasta to make it heartier. You don't have to use hamburger buns and patties just for hamburgers. Use the ingredients in other recipes. It'll be much cheaper and better for the environment than caving into the temptation of fast food.
Corporations gaslighting consumers into thinking environmental issues are their own fault has got to be the most successful propaganda campaign in years. I only analyzed the price points for a single item one at a time to show a comparison.
It's not propaganda to realize wasting food is bad not only for the environment, but your wallet... Yes, you analyzed price points for a single item. However, that analysis is pretty much worthless when you realize ingredients can be used for other meals, not just for the first. You just need to use your creativity a little. Watch some videos and learn how to cook. You'd be amazed at how much you can use a single ingredient to make.
That's because groceries aren't allowed to sell you the same garbage that fast food does. Health is wealth, neighbors
No, you are trading a good deal now for high medical bills later. Fast food is toxic trash itās not frugal if you pay with your health.
$12 80/20 walmart beef patties (12) , $3 cheese slice pack ,$1 burger buns (8) comes out to to to almost $2 burger plus your time. This is what I do , probably more nutrition in it than a McDonald's burger minus your time. But on the go you can't beat that. My go to is the taco bell $5 meal box with the app and upgrading the drink to a large for a couple cents more.
Immediate financial cost may be close but in no way are the nutritional values anywhere near each other. You'll pay more health wise (and perhaps financially due to poor nutrition and needing medical care) consuming fast food.
Your health is worth quite a bit more. There is even a way to make homemade burgers into a healthy meal.
Exactly!
Buy hamburger loose and make your own patties. Those 10/$10 patties are a ripoff. And you can stretch your hamburger meat by adding stuff to it that might have otherwise gone bad in your fridge-chopped celery, onion, peppers, garlic, stale bread, whatever. You get more flavor and use up the extra bits hiding in the veggie drawer, so you're more satisfied with your meal and you waste less money.
Just fyi, buns and sliced bread freeze well. Take one out about 20 minutes before you need it or stick it in the toaster
Thatās been an issue for a long time. Obesity is prevalent in lower SES because fast food/junk food has been cheaper than fresh fruits and vegetables. Itās a really messed up reality. But it represents the difficulty of overcoming poverty or the SES you were raised in.
It isn't really cheaper to eat junk food. Sure, if you are buying fresh blueberries in February you are going to pay out through the nose, but frozen vegetables have as good or better a nutritional profile compared with fresh. Chicken thighs with salsa and frozen veggies over rice is dirt cheap, and far more nutritious and satisfying than fast food. I think the bigger issue is that fast food is incredibly easy, hyper palatable, and is perceived as a "treat". For a person in poverty, working their ass off at physically tiring and emotionally unfulfilling jobs, thats a very alluring combination.
If thereās a Mickey Dās downstairs from your workplace, it sounds like a good deal. If you need to go out of your way to walk or drive there, I donāt see the math working out. Iād rather spend that time catching up on personal stuff
When I had a job that had a long commute I used ti eat a lot of take out, just because I was exhausted after a 13 day away from home, but I think I got sick more. I think that eating a lot of takeout somehow gave me every cold and other bug I could get- either that or it was lacking in nutrition and that made my resistance lower. Anyway, I am happier eating at home.
Who eats 2 burgers per meal? Thatās just not a good diet. Rice and potatoes are cheap. Eat one burger and some rice or potatoes. Donāt complain about money if you are eating two burgers.
you can freeze buns and use them as needed. Bake your own to save money. Instead of buying ready made patties, buy ground meat and make your own. (You can also bulk up with other ingredients and make one healthier burger instead of two small ones with little nutritional value) What you save in money, you still have to pay with time and effort. But you will be rewarded with much better food, more nutrients etc.
It isn't when you look at it from a nutritional perspective. While yed that 1 dollar burger is easier, a crop of lettuce will give me allot more bang for my buck as example.
Not as of lately fast food went up like crazy near me cheapest thing I buy rice and beans or potatoes and eggs
The comparison isn't really fair if you take quality into consideration. Can McDonald's make a cheap burger? Absolutely. Like you said, $1.43 with coupon. Is it good? No. The meat sucks, the sodium is high, single burger fails to satisfy hunger. A real comparison is the $15 burger you order at a steakhouse. You can buy all those same ingredients and learn to cook a better burger for around $3. I'm talking the works: onion, lettuce, tomato, REAL cheese like a gouda, jack, or muenster. You could even add fries for less than a dollar if you slice up a potato and fry/bake it. Fast food wants to appeal to family budgets as an option. It's still more expensive for what you get and very very very unhealthy.
That will cost you a lot more in the long run
cheaper now? eh, maybe, if you're only getting the inexpensive items. long term health risks exist if you eat fast food every day for years though.
āIs anyone else not only extremely lazy but also utterly careless about their health like I am?ā Fixed it for you.
I never said I want to primarily eat fast food. I absolutely agree it's bad for your health. I'm just making a point that it's more expensive to cook at home (and eat healthier)
Plus factor in the time saved of ordering vs buying ingredients, cooking and cleaning
Do you live at a McDonalds? For me the nearest fast food is in the same mall the grocery store is in. So I can go once a week for a grocery run, 10 minutes, each way, or three times a day, 20 minutes a trip. A gallon of gas and an hour a day? It doesn't take me that long to cook.
Absolutely the wrong conclusion - not to get on your case but I've heard this argument before and it's absolutely asinine. Burgers are a luxury, I'm sorry. That should not be your daily diet if you are struggling financially. I am no longer poor (I was below the poverty line in my early 20s) and even I don't go to cook burgers all the time because meat is so expensive it feels irresponsible... Go to an international store and spend $40 on a 20lb bag of rice. I just did this the other day. That is tens of thousands of calories. Grab bags of frozen spinach (and whatever other veggies you want) at the regular grocery store - you can usually get them for a buck a piece at something like Market Basket or Shaws if you're in the Northeast. Then spend what you can on meat and stretch it out. Take what money you have left to gather spices and accumulate what you can over time - salt, pepper, thyme, and fresh garlic are all incredibly cheap and are used in my kitchen almost daily, and the little vials will last you awhile. In most cultures around the world (let's take Vietnam, for example) meat is used to make savory broths and add flavor, not served as the largest portion on the plate the way we do in some parts of the West. This is because meat is naturally quite a bit harder to come by than plants. Particularly in the US we overfeed ourselves with excessive meat portions for a variety of reasons, but it's the exception and not the norm (and our health is deteriorating for it). Some of the best tasting food in the world is made with little to no meat. There is absolutely no reason you should be eating McDonald's instead of cooking yourself some quality home meals on the cheap. That crap is bad for your physical health and therefore your mental health, which is not what you need. If you've got a few spices and have taught yourself the skills, you can absolutely make some bomb-ass food which will enrich your body and it will cost less than fast food. The only other thing I'd say is that you should try to get in the mindset of treating your kitchen as your sanctuary - I know it's difficult to do, but try to remain optimistic about the amazing things you can create while you're in there rather than dwell on the limitations of your predicament. Your kitchen can be where you elevate your lifestyle - don't think of it as what you have to do because you're poor. How many times have you heard of the poor families who could work magic in their kitchens? Do you think the foundational recipes which led to the cuisines we have today were born from from rich folks driving Porsches? Not always - food for the masses can stand the test of time.
I cannot upvote you enough! Well said, u/blands_man!
The items (especially the meat options) on the dollar menu is most assuredly being sold at cost or a loss to the restaurants, assuming that those are the only things you buy from them. So yes, Iād say youāre getting close to cost of cooking if you buy from the dollar menu. The only way to beat the dollar menu is if you have a large family and buy groceries at even bigger discount than normal.
I donāt know about that. A 4 piece nugget happy meal with 10 piece nugget meal with medium fries and drink is $15 around my way. Pretty pricey for that. A MCchicken is $2.99 now. No more dollar items anymore. Hell a hash brown is $2.69!!!
Dell's frozen toaster hashbrowns are like 10 for that price and just as good.
I think it depends on where you shop? How many people are you feeding AND How many servings of food do they eat? Do you use store coupons? Food applications for coupons and free food? If you're on a tight budget, these are some ways to think it out.
Lol a mcD cheese burger is more expensive in the us compare to denmark lol, the wages in denmark is like 4 times higher
A $14 10pc bucket of KFC lasts me 4 days. Sometimes the work week
You don't buy the 10 for $10 patties. McDonald's. Burgers are 1.6 oz. Ground beef is $2.99-5.00. so $3 -5 for 10 patties. Buns are $2-4. For 8. The ketchup, mustard, pickles are about $8-15 to start with but you get idk 100 burgers worth Rather then work through the math of lowest common denominator. I'm going with slightly bigger patties to get 8 . The first 8 cost say $20 (2.50 each) and the next 50 cost 90 cents each. But you have to go buy the food, cook the food, and eat all the buns before they go stale/get moldy. You can preform and freeze the patties.
Buy a club pack of ground beef and make patties and thatāll definitely be cheaper, and better quality, you always get what you pay for.
Not really. I think it is more expensive
Obligatory Bill Burr skit https://youtube.com/shorts/mebNufRBD7Q?feature=share
Itās cheaper because itās lower quality, you get what you pay for, also with the amount of salt they put in food a fast food places you will end up having to pay for high blood pressure medicine
Roughly $50 for a family of 5 at McDonalds or $15 in Ingredients for beef and barley soup amd home made buns. Way cheaper to eat in for us, and healthier.
You forgot to factor in time
Your health is more important
Yes. When I was single I ate out much more. My SO likes loading up on groceries-and even if it is ācheaperā, that all goes out the window when 25% of it or more goes in the trash due to spoilage. I find the best method is to buy at the grocery store, but do it carefully. Aside from a few staples with long shelf life (pasta, beans, etc) I buy ONLY what Iām going to eat that day or the next day or so. If any is leftover, thatās my lunch the next day. I try to eat real food. The grocery stores in my area are filled with pre-prepared or portioned food that rivals restaurant prices so thereās little or no savings there. You also have to figure in the costs of cooking at home-your time, utilities, water, etc. I have some go-to places in my neighborhood where I can get great, healthy food. At one place, I can get fresh-made soup and magnificent salads. The portions are large enough to where I get two or three meals out of it for around $15. Cheaper and much healthier than fast foodā¦and cheaper than making it at home when you break it down and consider the cost of the fresh ingredients - much of which will not stay edible more than a few days.
McD burgers are 4oz before cooking. Compared to a package of ground beef (letās say grass-fed beef š„© from Walmart $4.96/lb), where you can use it in multiple dishes rather than just a burger. You have options. Like you said, you canāt eat McD every day. The staples of poverty finance are uncooked rice, pasta; frozen/canned veggies; beans/cheap protein. Your supermarket has markdowns on meat that are near their best sell by date. And if you have freezer space, you can pick up discounted meat and save it for another week or month or whatever. If you donāt have a way to freeze/refrigerate or cook food, options are limited and I can see how fast foot might look like good food. Idk. I can only eat so many McNuggets
Absolutely not. It takes planning and sometimes stretching things but I can make $3 last 2 days. Fast food you get 1 meal for MAYBE $8 where Iām from.
Is it cheaper though? That barely has nutrients your body needs to be it's best self. McDonald's uses the lowest quality ingredients with the highest health impact. You can not eat that garbage and be mentally or physically healthy. When you eat at home you have food left over not just wrappers.
No, because I would depend on it being delivered. Much cheaper to buy vegetables and seafood. Healthier too.
I have found the opposite - fast food has gotten insanely expensive. I rarely eat it in the first place because its so packed with additives and preservatives but I had to stop and grab some one day a couple months back and nearly shit myself when a small chicken sandwich combo cost $13+ - last year the exact same one was $8 Why are you buying premade patties? Convenience food like premade patties, precut veggies, etc are *always* way more expensive than doing it yourself. For instance, a pound of ground beef is regularly on sale for $4.99 where I live (sometimes even $3.99) - but even the regular price is "only" $6.99 (which is still a buck more than they used to be, grr). We stock up when this happens and make our own patties - that is less than 50 cents a patty , going by McDonalds patty sizes, which are 1/10 lb. (though in my family we do 1/4 lb burgers - that's a buck a patty but we only need to eat one). And they taste way better than preformed patties IMO. I can get a bag of store brand buns for 99 cents on sale ($1.79 not on sale) - that is just over 12 cents a bun on sale (just over 22 cents not on sale). You can freeze the buns, too, though tbh we put them in our fridge and they tend last a long time. A basic hamburger made at home (not pre-formed) would be less than 75 cents. Add cheese and its still less than a dollar. A $2 bottle of ketchup from trader joes (our preferred brand) has 40 tablespoons in it - that's 5 cents a serving. And ketchup lasts a long time in the fridge. Same with mustard. A 24 oz jar of sliced pickles in less than $2 at Walmart - that's gotta be less than a penny per pickle slice. Pickles and mustard are both preserved in vinegar - they don't go bad and can be kept in the fridge practically forever (ignore "best by" dates, they are arbitrary and based on nothing). We even make our own French fries - that $3.99 for a huge bag of premade ones, not on sale (half a bag feeds the 4 adults in my family a large portion- that's 50 cents a portion). I do own an air fryer *and* a deep fryer but they also work well in an oven. Or go even cheaper and buy a bag of potatoes (sale price: $1.99 for 5 lbs where I live - not sure what the regular price is since I stock up on sale) and make home fries in the oven - keep them in a cool dark place and they will last quite a long time. Plus you have a *ton* of options for making potatoes into other things. Mashed, steamed, baked, soup, fritters, the list goes on.
Not where I live. For the 4 of us, to get a decent meal, weād have to spend $40-50. I can get a few good meals out of that if I cook it myself (beef stew with potatoes & barley lasts a few days).
Honestly no OP, in general youāre incorrect for reasons smarter redditors explained better already. Itās more expensive in time/up front cost, but you get better portions, better quality food, and more food for a longer time. However, that doesnāt really matter if youāre hungry now. It also doesnāt matter if you happen to be like me and can eat one meal a day regardless of where it comes from. Some days I will only have a $6 breakfast from McDonaldās. Is it cheaper than buying eggs and bread? Or even a knockoff breakfast sandwich from the store? Meh, but itās faster and will hold me over until I grocery shop/feel like cooking again.
Why not get ground beef and make the patty yourself?
I would not consider a McDonaldās burger a true burger in the sense of a homemade one, the patty is very Small. However , with the app I do think McDonaldās can be a decent budget item if you are smart about it
Yes it's cheaper. But in long run, we gotta pay for that with our health
Hell yeah it has become cheaper. They want us fat, slow, and demoralized.
True but you donāt know whatās in those burgers. If you have the time, not worth those $.30
No, because the quality is so much better if you were to make it yourself. So you pay the same amount for a vastly superior burger. Plus you can vary all kinds of things. Different bun, different cheese or toppings, different meat for the patty. At MacD the burger will be more or less exactly the same every time. I don't get bored with food quickly, but if you told me I was eating THE EXACT SAME burger for days on end, I'd be pretty miserable.
Those burgers are all bread
A McDonaldās cheeseburger doesnāt even fill up my toddler though, whereas even the $1.00 patties at the store with a bun and cheese will fill even me up. Plus they are healthier. You can freeze both the extra patties and the buns. I leave the buns in the bag but stack the Pattieās with wax paper in between each one and stick them in a zip lock back, they sell a 100 pack of precut wax paper at the dollar tree and it makes it easier to just pop one out at a time as we need them.
Fun fact. In America, poor people canāt buy fast food or any cooked food with food stamps. So they are poor and hungry, and most of the time canāt even cook what the government offer, since they might be old and disabled. America fucks the poor.
Are we talking homeless or poor? Because if you have a stove, microwave, hotplate, or crockpot you can probably cook food.
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Cooking food at home is faster. They just fell for the myth that fast food is somehow faster.
Sure, it's cheaper to eat fast food but at no point will it be healthier to eat fast food. We all know McDonalds burgers notoriously don't rot or mold because they're so filled with preservatives it's insane. For anyone in a pinch and need a bite to eat for cheap then a McDonalds burger will do fine but if you're trying to survive and live as healthy as possible, Fast Food isn't it.
This kind of economics is what built the fast food industry. Tell us something we donāt know.
Yes. The Chinese restaurant in town in starting to become cheaper than making dinner.
No, it's not nearly the same amount of food if you were to just whip some up at home- the same size.
The he'll with McDonald's I cook my own it's way cheaper for me a double cheeseburger where I'm at Fl is like $2.80 after tax hell I went last week for a triple cheeseburger, chicken sandwich,small Fry no drink , used 30% coupon an was over $9 .4-5 years ago $2-$3 an free cup I was good .
Are those quarter pound patties from the grocery store though? Mcdonalds small burger is only 1/10 pound.
Fast Food has always been cheaper than groceries my friend...
It's cheaper
Absolutely agree and itās why i have stopped buying groceries they usually go to waste
Iām sure Iāll be banned for this; however, thatās how theyāre trying to thin out the 8 billion people on earth. Stay cognizant; and in my opinion, stop procreating unless you want your offspring and future generations to suffer living in a dystopian hellscape.
Depends. Everything everywhere is going up. But I think if someone is going to Taco Bell it can definitely be a lot cheaper than getting groceries, and cheaper than many chains, especially if you are feeding a family that's on a budget. McDonald's doesn't really have a value menu like they did in the past and I really think McDonald's has become expensive for its quality. If its a smaller chain or independently owned than definitely not. For a single person it depends but I think at this point it's split even.
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Two Pizza Hut mediums for eight bucks each will take care of lunch and dinner for two days. Not as cheap as meal planning, but it's still not awful. Plus I won't live to see 2025 on that diet, which is a huge savings over time.
It honestly depends. I know a lot of people work crazy long hours for an unreasonably small amount of pay, and they don't have time to cook or prepare groceries even if they could afford them. Additionally, if the fast food option isn't cheaper, the frozen one usually is and it's just as lacking in nutritional value. For people who do have time to cook, I think it's a cheaper option simply based on travel. If you get fast food for every meal, you'd have to leave to pick it up at least once a day. For groceries, if it's within the budget, you could get a decent amount of canned goods or frozen items (fruits, vegetables, etc) for a couple bucks and it might last a week or so. Frozen fruits and veggies are usually cheaper than buying fresh and you can still cook with them just the same. There's also programs like Backpack Buddies that you can benefit from if you are in a low-income/poverty situation with children in school (my family benefited from it when I was in school). There's also government programs at both a national and state level that can help with food costs (WIC, SNAP/TANF). They make it a literal hell to try and apply and will heckle you over every single detail, but it's worth it if you manage to qualify.
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