The Cost of Eating

I don't know about you all, but I've noticed something rather sad. It's probably not news to many folks, but the realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

Because of the busy schedule we've been keeping lately, we've been eating out more often than usual. McDonalds, Taco Bell, the local family restaurant. Whatever. For our family(now 4) to eat out at the family restaurant, it costs about $45 dollars.

Now, skip ahead to last night. I actually have time to cook. But what? I had nothing in the house because, well, that darned busy schedule again. So, I have Mike take me to the grocery store.

The things I bought for the meal I planned to make cost me as much as if I took the family out to eat at the restaurant! No joke! And it wasn't a fancy meal either. Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread. Nothing special. Of course, I did buy some other things as well; couple loaves of bread, milk, Parmesan Cheese(gotta have that for the spaghetti!), etc. But all told, just what I spent on the meal cost me almost as much as if I had gone out to eat.

Eating at home is no longer cheaper than eating out.

Here's my dilemma: Somehow, I can't help being excited by this because as much as I love a home-cooked meal just like the next guy, that's only when someone else cooks it. If I don't have to cook, I'm a happy woman.

On the other hand, this is sad, right? Of course it is. No longer can we say that going out to eat is too expensive. Eating in general is expensive! Oh and don't get me started on eating healthy. You have to be a freakin' millionaire(billionaire?) to eat healthy.