Restaurants and recession

We don't eat out very often now since the economy is so bad.  We have to count our pennies, as they say, but we have to count out dollars.  A dollar doesn't go very far now and for a long time people spent, spent spent.  Now with all the businesses downsizing or closing, it has made many people without funds to afford the luxory of eating out.  I feel for them because they probably don't have enough money for putting a roof over their families heads.   I raised my family and think of how they are doing.  Now it's time for me to think of myself and my husband and how we will handel our fiinances since we are now in our senior years.   We can manage ok if we don't eat out and spend dollars we will be taking away from our bills.   Good Luck to the younger generation and God Blesss those that try what they can, to survive in this economy crisis.

I have a son with autism who loves to go out to eat but due to the economy this is a luxury and no longer a big part of his socializing.  I keep thinking things cannot get any worse off but the next day brings more bad news.  I am barely keeping my house, paying my utility bills so the little left over goes to luxuries like shoes.  Painful in West Virginia

Yes I have.  I used to eat lunch out a couple times a week and dinner at least once.  Now I pack my lunch or eat at home. 

Not totally.  But we sure have reduced the amount of time we spend outside of our own kitchen for meals.  We have also starting shopping at a discount grocery store where you must bring your own bags and bag them yourself.  We have made a lot of cuts, including eating out about 50% less.  It really stinks but at least we are eating, unlike some families.

our dining-out habits changed 6 years ago, when we bought our house, and about half of our friends lost their jobs (the beginning of this economic cycle, in some ways) and our place turned in to the cool place to sit around and eat good food...so it's got to be something I can't make at home, or something special - which means non-chain, owner-operated places like Cafe Con Leche in Newtown, The Landing in New Hope, Marrakesh or Blue Sage in-county, places where the service answers to the owners, not to a regional manager they've never met, and the cooks are there because they're obsessed with food. 

what I don't do so often is jump in on the 'let's order lunch in' bandwagon at work...but that was as much for my health as my wallet - I need a walk more than I need more lo mein ;)

It hasn't stopped me from eating in restaraunts, but I definately have found cheaper ones to eat out at, or to get carry out.  Chinese restaurant here has all you can fill into a large container for 8.68 including tax.  We normally get 3 meals out of it.  Do the math......great deal.

Yes I can't afford to go out and eat that much anymore

I usually go for the deals like at friendly''s or fridays