Eating out is no treat with limited income

In this age of costly existence eating out is a chief hindrance in our approach to getting our finances under control. We indulge in extravagance by eating out. How unreasonable that seems — driving ourselves under financial burden.

“I wonder if there is any other reason to eating out so much than our becoming accustomed to it as a habit. Like many other habits, we get so relaxed with it that we don’t want to change ourselves despite knowing the fact that this habit is destructive for us health-wise and money-wise, but we still stick to it,” says Ehsan Ali from Chungi No.22.

“Frequently we go out to eat. We know the food is not fine for our family members, we know we don’t have enough money to pay for it, and we know when the time to pay utility bills will come we will be so stressed that we will take it out on everyone around us,” adds Ehsan.

“I am one who offers excuses about eating out all the time, and I know it’s terrible for my health, my finances, and my family. I own up to what I’ve been doing, and hopefully will try to get myself out of the financial mess I’m in at the moment. Eating at home more and dinners out once a month instead of every weekend is the best method to achieve that goal,” says Raziq from Chachi Mohallah.

“I grew up in the restaurant business many years ago and know how overly-processed the food is and how it is prepared. We as adults need to set a good example for our children and show them that healthy home-cooked food is the best for their health, says Mushtaq Hussain from Rajgan Mohallah.

“Cooking at home has been better for the budget and our health. I got my daughters involved from the young age. They plan and cook dinner once a week. They even set the table and clear it after having the meal. Of course, at the early stage they cooked with my help, they are now grown-up and out on their own,” says Fatima Bibi from Workshopi Mohallah.

“I extremely dislike cooking, but I hate even more going out and spend my husband’s hard earned money on food that tastes good but doesn’t necessarily good for our health, and is prepared in doubtful surroundings with uncertain ingredients,” says Fizza Ali from Bao Mohallah.

“There is so much taste in every bite of a home-cooked meal. There is a definite satisfaction of performing such a loving act for your family. Eating out should be for a special event or celebration, not the other way around,” says Nuzhat Ali from Jhangi Mohallah.

Baseerat Hussain from Chaklala Scheme III says:  “The restaurant doesn’t charge you much as you think if you consider rent, labor, salaries, taxes and all other expenses that go into running a restaurant, that’s just what they have to charge you in order to make the business work. And these are usually smaller restaurants. The menus are tailored toward high profit margins because they use best and freshest ingredients.”

“Some families face financial difficulties because they have made eating out their lifestyle as it is so tempting to do so. We eat at home the majority of the time and very rarely eat out to avoid a major drain on our finances,” says Shafaat Hussain from Areya Mohallah.