Where is the Bigger Savings on Food? Eating Out vs Homemade Fajita Cost Comparison

Where is the bigger savings on food? This question came up recently in a Facebook group, and I was shocked to see the number of people saying that they SAVE money on food by eating out! Is this even possible? That is the mission that I sat out on this week, after my family recently ate out at a local Mexican restaurant.
To take on this task, I am comparing the price of all ingredients needed, down to the 1/2 cup of sour cream, using regular retail grocery prices, bulk buying strategies, as well as organic and homegrown methods of purchasing groceries to see which method of feeding my family is actually cheaper. Join me as I explore the options to find the best method.
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[@jessicaspencer9784]

I completely agree with you that if you have the ingredients at home that it is definitely cheaper to cook at home. But if you are having to buy all the ingredients then make it. The initial ingredient purchase is what I think most people mean by it’s cheaper to eat out than cook at home. I know of someone that says that all the time till I told her once you buy it most of the stuff can be used more than once like flour, sugar, seasonings. That’s when she understood what we mean when it’s cheaper to cook at home.

[@thehometownhomestead]

I totally see that, and hopefully people will see that 90% of the time, home saves a ton of money, even if the initial trip is more expensive. Thanks for watching and giving your feedback! Hope to see you back soon!

[@StephanieGiese]

I do think it depends on the quality of ingredients and where you are eating out. For example, I can feed my family McDonald's for less money than I can make burgers and fries at home. In our area we can get a McDouble bundle, which is a double cheeseburger and small french fries for $3.49 per person, which is about $28 for our family of 8. Ground beef is almost $10/lb in our grocery store. Even when I but meat in bulk, it's close to $6 per lb. I literally can't buy meat, buns, cheese, plus condiments, pickles, onions, etc and potatoes for less than I can get burgers at a fast food place. Flour and yeast are also expensive in our area (we are in Florida) so even making my own bread is more expensive than buying it, although I do make it anyway to avoid ingredients I don't want to feed my kids. There are times when eating out is cheaper, yes. And some families just don't have access to all the cooking tools I do. But I'm fortunate to have the time and ability to cook from home, so I just don't make the meals that are more expensive at home. What I can do instead is not make burgers very often. Instead, I'll buy a whole chicken and a bag of carrots for about half that price and make at least two more nutritious meals out of that.

[@thehometownhomestead]

This is a good one! Maybe I’ll run a cost comparison of burger night and see how it turns out! Thanks for sharing!

[@ByrneHomemade]

It is def NOT cheaper to eat out for our family! As a family of 7 we cost over $120 a meal easily. I can an entire meal for all of us for under $30 at home with a little left over! The fajitas look so yummy!

[@PlowAndPantryHomestead]

Great comparison! And you made a great point near the end when you were talking about the level of doneness of the meat, and that is that when you cook it at home you also make it to your personal preferences.

[@thehometownhomestead]

Yes, it given a choice, my kids would take rare over well-done. Thanks for watching!

[@otrdean]

I worked in four different restaurants. Unsanitary is my conclusion. You have a prep and cooking area that's cleaner. Many employees don't wash their hands.

[@thehometownhomestead]

Great (disgusting) add to the conversation. You are correct. I am very big on keeping a clean kitchen, and I’ve seen many gross health department reports from local places. Thanks for sharing!

[@dianamilburn1743]

Wow.... that's a big difference in cost... restaurant vs. home cooked!! Also, a big difference in time for your 45 minutes cook time vs. sit down time at the restaurant...plus travel time!! Beautiful garden and your pantry with home canned food is inspiring! Thanks for the comparison!!

[@thehometownhomestead]

Thanks for watching! 🍅🫛🫑🧅

[@afarmtokeep]

Wow...that is surprising. Thank you for doing the cost breakdown.

[@thehometownhomestead]

My pleasure!

[@Iluvchknz]

I want to know where those people are eating that Vitale’s to eat out than to cook. Seriously, even if you don’t grow your own food, buy in bulk or get your beef from a local farmer it is still cheaper to cook at home.

[@thehometownhomestead]

I think they are looking at the overall cost of purchasing the ingredients without considering that you can get more than one meal out of the those same ingredients. While the overall bill at the store is higher, you’re eating for much longer than one meal. I think it also shows that some can mount an argument for any position, even if unrelated to reality. That said, if you’re buying a bunch of preprocessed/box foods, which are astronomical, then maybe a run through McDonald’s is cheaper. (I recently sat $7/bag Doritos, for example.) All in, we save a ton, and eat higher quality food. That’s a fact, but I enjoyed a “reason” to eat out nonetheless. 🙌🏻 Thanks for watching, and taking the time to comment! Hope to see you back soon.

[@lionness_simsima5941]

Hello 👋 there, how’s it going nice sharing

[@thehometownhomestead]

Thank you! Hope to see you back soon.

[@bobbieasche1996]

I see a menu board in the back ground. Can you show how you use it and prepare meals for the week?

[@thehometownhomestead]

@@bobbieasche1996 I usually make a plan on Sunday and pull out the meat. I write down our weekly plan next to it to help everyone keep track of what we have planned, and there is a spot for grocery list on the side, although I usually don’t add much to that. I add the needed items directly to my Azure order for the next month on my phone.

[@Msig03]

I agree you can choose the quality of the ingredients at home. Those are worth it ! Good local farm fresh grass fed meat tastes much better than cheap ! That is worth the money !

[@thehometownhomestead]

@@Msig03 definitely worth it for us!

[@kaliehall-to8im]

Sametime we do order out goodnight Kristen Johnson hahaha good one my name is Heather ha youtube video pool party prep sweet bbf

[@stephencameron1709]

Great job and delicious! Val C

[@thehometownhomestead]

Thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@fobfan1218]

$13.99 for fajitas is so cheap! It’s at least $10 to $12 more where I’m at. And that’s for one not two!

[@thehometownhomestead]

@@fobfan1218 it is really cheap! The fact that we can feed our entire family of 7 there for under $70 is amazing!

[@Iluvchknz]

@@thehometownhomestead Enjoy that while they are young/little. It gets expensive as they get older and there is no more entree sharing.

[@jenniferr2057]

Where I live we could not eat for 3 at a Mexican restaurant for $70 even with no beverages, apps or desserts.

[@thehometownhomestead]

@@jenniferr2057 this place is a true gem. While they are a Mexican restaurant, they make an awesome burger and fries too, which is the only thing my little girls want to eat out. 😆