DINING OUT

So, this is embarrassing. The week before I wrote this article, I wolfed down two store-bought lunches, three coffees and a couple of muffins while rushing between meetings. (Not all at once, thank goodness.)

Hoisting a bag full of takeout burritos into my car one night, I found myself thinking, “I’m tired. I work hard. I deserve this.” Sound familiar?

Of course I’m not the only Canadian to spring for takeout for the sake of convenience. A recent survey listing financial “guilty pleasures” showed that 72 per cent of people dine out and 71 per cent order takeout more than a few times a month, making restaurant spending the No. 1 indulgence for Canadians.

Consumers are spending more on restaurant meals than ever before, according to the 2018 Canada’s Food Price Report.

Developed by researchers at Dalhousie University and the University of Guelph, the report indicates that in 2018, the average home in Canada is expected to allocate nearly 30 per cent of its food budget to food service, the highest number recorded. For instance, if a family of four spends $11,948 for food over the course of the year — the average, according to the report — then $3,584.40 of that is spent at restaurants and takeout counters. That’s nearly $300 per month.

These numbers don’t surprise Linda Robinson. As a certified cash flow specialist in Hamilton, Ont., she says she often sees clients who are spending $4,000 or even $5,000 each year on restaurant food.

“The reality is, nobody needs to go out to eat, buy that coffee or buy that bagel,” she says. “But it’s about what you’re willing to say yes or no to.”

It’s probably not surprising that people are forgoing homecooked grub for quick meals prepared by others these days. According to another Dalhousie study, 57 per cent of the population who are Generation X ( born between 1965 and 1976), don’t prepare meals during the week, with many citing “lack of time” as the culprit. Forty-six per cent of millennials follow this pattern.

Convenience meals can feel like the answer — even if it means spending more than the recommended 10–20 per cent of the family’s total budget on food. Luckily, there are some ways to lower restaurant costs and keep finances on track.

Eat lunch: Most restaurants offer a menu during the day that’s often similar to their dinnertime offering — but without the hefty price tag. Take the award-winning Vancouver restaurant Au Comptoir. At lunch, it serves a steamed fish of the day for $18, while diners pay $34 for roasted halibut in the evening.

Doggy-bag it: Want to get two meals for the price of one? Set aside half your restaurant meal and have it packed up for home. Voila. Lunch for the next day.

Use cash only: Having a credit card handy makes it easy to feel like money is no object when ordering food. Create a restaurant budget for the week and take out that amount of cash at the ABM. Once the cash is gone, it’s gone.