infinity ag said:

---

Quote:

---

For me it's not a matter of a wealth gap it's a matter of people in the middle class being able to spend on discretionary items while also being able to save responsibly. Right now a lot of people are struggling to make ends meet. I don't care if rich people get richer. Good for them. I want the middle class to simultaneously thrive. And I want people in the lower class to have good opportunities to advance into the middle class.

---

The issue is the rich are getting richer at the cost of middle class. So while Steve Moneybags goes from $100M to $200M, you see Steve Middleclass go from $50k to $52k.

Now if we could get Mr Middleclass to go from $50k to $100k AND Mr Moneybags go from $100M to whatever Million, I am all for it. But middle class and poor in America remain where they are.

---

Nothing stops middle from going 50k to 100k other than incompetence and unwillingness to learn investing and the discipline to actually save money instead of blowing everything as you earn it.

TXAG 05 said:

---

beanbean said:

---

Jinx said:

---

Would you say Food Trucks are the new fast food?

---

Not by price. Food trucks are expensive.

---

And usually not very fast either.

---

Yeah my job does this really awesome thing for the employees on the last Wednesday of every month where they bring in a new food truck from the Oklahoma City area, park it in the parking lot in front of the main entrance and buy lunch on the house (anything on the menu) for all employees. I'm always reading the menu and pretty much every truck's entree price is in the $15-20 range with sides and drink on top of that. And yes, a bunch of people have to burn most of their lunch break waiting on their food. But it's still an awesome thing my company does. I end of trying all kinds of cuisine I'd normally not try because they go through the effort of trying to pick a different truck with a different type of food each month.

As others have said, it seems we are returning to the old days when dining out was a treat. Restaurants will be for the well-off and fast food/casual chains will decline.

When I was a kid, my family never went to restaurants. Maybe fast food once or twice a year; maybe a nice restaurant if we had out-of-town company. Other than that, we ate at home. I had no idea about ethnic foods; I remember my girlfriend's dad poking fun at me because I had no clue what to order at a Chinese restaurant. I never had Mexican food until I was in college.

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing if all these struggling chains went out of business.

techno-ag said:

---

https://www.newsnationnow.com/business/slop-bowl-sales-warning-restaurant-chains/

Bidenflation really did a number on restaurants. Hardly a week goes by we don't hear about another one shutting down here in C-Stat.

Quote:

---

Several restaurant chains are sounding the alarm about their customers' attitudes as the country's economy worsens due to inflation and slow hiring numbers.

Chipotle, Sweetgreen and Cava all purveyors of "slop bowls" have seen their stocks drop dramatically in 2025. Chipotle's stock is down about 50% for the year, while Cava has seen a 60% decline. Sweetgreen last week revealed in its earnings that same-store sales slid 9.5% and visits fell nearly 12%.

"The 25-to-35 (year old) consumer is the most under pressure, and they make up about 30% of our consumer base," Sweetgreen's CFO Jamie McConnell said.

Chipotle's CEO Scott Boatwright added the chain is not losing its consumer base to competition, but instead to grocery stores and people eating at home.

---

Maybe it's a good thing young people learn how to cook for themselves. It's way cheaper. Maybe they'll learn to brew their own coffee too.

---

If you're living alone or are just a couple, I'm not so sure it's that much cheaper to cook at home than dine out. It is healthier, and good practice for when you do have a family, but I don't think you're saving much money.

Its Texas Aggies, dammit said:

---

FatZilla said:

---

infinity ag said:

---

Quote:

---

For me it's not a matter of a wealth gap it's a matter of people in the middle class being able to spend on discretionary items while also being able to save responsibly. Right now a lot of people are struggling to make ends meet. I don't care if rich people get richer. Good for them. I want the middle class to simultaneously thrive. And I want people in the lower class to have good opportunities to advance into the middle class.

---

The issue is the rich are getting richer at the cost of middle class. So while Steve Moneybags goes from $100M to $200M, you see Steve Middleclass go from $50k to $52k.

Now if we could get Mr Middleclass to go from $50k to $100k AND Mr Moneybags go from $100M to whatever Million, I am all for it. But middle class and poor in America remain where they are.

---

Nothing stops middle from going 50k to 100k other than incompetence and unwillingness to learn investing and the discipline to actually save money instead of blowing everything as you earn it.

---

Wow. That is a simplistic take if I have ever heard one. Yes, success is possible. At the same time, younger people have the deck stacked against them in so many ways. The wealth divide is worse than ever. The broken money has a lot to do with it. And I predict that there will be a bloodbath in the mid-term elections as a result. Money printing has far-reaching consequences. www.wtfhppenedin1971.com tells the story.

---

Except its not. Wealth gap between middle and upper class has zero bearing on personal fiscal discipline at every level. Elon Musk having billions has no impact on my ability or anyone elses to save and invest what i can. This generation doesn't save. They blow money on credit like interest doesn't exist and then wonder why they are broke. Inflation and spending power is a whole different ballgame but that wasn't the topic, wealth gap was.

FatZilla said:

---

infinity ag said:

---

Quote:

---

For me it's not a matter of a wealth gap it's a matter of people in the middle class being able to spend on discretionary items while also being able to save responsibly. Right now a lot of people are struggling to make ends meet. I don't care if rich people get richer. Good for them. I want the middle class to simultaneously thrive. And I want people in the lower class to have good opportunities to advance into the middle class.

---

The issue is the rich are getting richer at the cost of middle class. So while Steve Moneybags goes from $100M to $200M, you see Steve Middleclass go from $50k to $52k.

Now if we could get Mr Middleclass to go from $50k to $100k AND Mr Moneybags go from $100M to whatever Million, I am all for it. But middle class and poor in America remain where they are.

---

Nothing stops middle from going 50k to 100k other than incompetence and unwillingness to learn investing and the discipline to actually save money instead of blowing everything as you earn it.

---

The only way to do it is by starting your own company (Like Tom Fox) or by investing. I did it using the latter. Investing.
You can barely survive in today's America being only an employee. Which is where the middle class is.

Not everyone can start a company nor can many be good investors.

Hence America is screwed.

techno-ag said:

---

infinity ag said:

---

Quote:

---

For me it's not a matter of a wealth gap it's a matter of people in the middle class being able to spend on discretionary items while also being able to save responsibly. Right now a lot of people are struggling to make ends meet. I don't care if rich people get richer. Good for them. I want the middle class to simultaneously thrive. And I want people in the lower class to have good opportunities to advance into the middle class.

---

The issue is the rich are getting richer at the cost of middle class. So while Steve Moneybags goes from $100M to $200M, you see Steve Middleclass go from $50k to $52k.

Now when I say this, the usual suspects emerge to "defend the rich" (while being poor/middle class themselves).

Now if we could get Mr Middleclass to go from $50k to $100k AND Mr Moneybags go from $100M to whatever Million, I am all for it. But middle class and poor in America remain where they are.

---

Don't vote Democrat if you want to see the middle class succeed. They would prefer everybody be dependent on government handouts.

---

Agreed.
But payouts must be more fair. We don't have it today. Don't think any party can do anything, it is an ethics issue which cannot be legislated.

EclipseAg said:

---

As others have said, it seems we are returning to the old days when dining out was a treat. Restaurants will be for the well-off and fast food/casual chains will decline.

When I was a kid, my family never went to restaurants. Maybe fast food once or twice a year; maybe a nice restaurant if we had out-of-town company. Other than that, we ate at home. I had no idea about ethnic foods; I remember my girlfriend's dad poking fun at me because I had no clue what to order at a Chinese restaurant. I never had Mexican food until I was in college.

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing if all these struggling chains went out of business.

---

I think you are on to something!!
When I was a kid, we went out 4 times a year to fancy places. For someone's birthday. Maybe outings very very rarely. Mom cooked every day. Real cooking, not throwing things in a microwave.
Now we do it twice a week.

So you may be right.

One reason I hate to eat out is tips. I don't want to spend 20% on stuff I don't buy. So I'd rather do take out. The restaurant should pay their emps else go out of business. Not my job.

BBRex said:

---

techno-ag said:

---

https://www.newsnationnow.com/business/slop-bowl-sales-warning-restaurant-chains/

Bidenflation really did a number on restaurants. Hardly a week goes by we don't hear about another one shutting down here in C-Stat.

Quote:

---

Several restaurant chains are sounding the alarm about their customers' attitudes as the country's economy worsens due to inflation and slow hiring numbers.

Chipotle, Sweetgreen and Cava all purveyors of "slop bowls" have seen their stocks drop dramatically in 2025. Chipotle's stock is down about 50% for the year, while Cava has seen a 60% decline. Sweetgreen last week revealed in its earnings that same-store sales slid 9.5% and visits fell nearly 12%.

"The 25-to-35 (year old) consumer is the most under pressure, and they make up about 30% of our consumer base," Sweetgreen's CFO Jamie McConnell said.

Chipotle's CEO Scott Boatwright added the chain is not losing its consumer base to competition, but instead to grocery stores and people eating at home.

---

Maybe it's a good thing young people learn how to cook for themselves. It's way cheaper. Maybe they'll learn to brew their own coffee too.

---

If you're living alone or are just a couple, I'm not so sure it's that much cheaper to cook at home than dine out. It is healthier, and good practice for when you do have a family, but I don't think you're saving much money.

---

I disagree strongly.

At $20/pop two meals a day 5 days a week lunch and supper averages, you're looking at $800/month. That buys a lot of groceries. One loaf of bread and a package of sandwich meat will produce 10 sandwiches far cheaper than buying them at the deli every day as just one example.

Huge corporations are both the death of the middle class and what makes America's economy so desirable.

They undercut small business and really only benefit the small % of people that can get to VP or higher. They also cut cost to the bone at the expense of employees and customers, well before management and investors are impacted.

But, the stability and standardization of the F500 make it safe and predictable for investors from all over the world.

Double edged sword for sure.

AtticusMatlock said:

---

For me it's not a matter of a wealth gap it's a matter of people in the middle class being able to spend on discretionary items while also being able to save responsibly. Right now a lot of people are struggling to make ends meet. I don't care if rich people get richer. Good for them. I want the middle class to simultaneously thrive. And I want people in the lower class to have good opportunities to advance into the middle class.

---

I don't doubt that some are struggling but some of the middle class, whether struggling or not, have created a lot of their own problems. Like the federal government, they have a spending problem. The middle class I am familiar with generally have chosen several things from the menu that includes: two fairly new vehicles (replacing them frequently), a boat or RV or both, side by side or ATV, a pair of jet skis, a $4,000 per year dear lease, live in a house two to four times as nice as the one their parents lived in at their age, season tickets and related costs to attend college or pro sports events, travel all over for youth sports (fall ball/select ball etc.), eat out a lot and/or pay to have food driven to their house, and so on. All of which is fine, their choice, but those sorts of things also plays a large part in the struggling.

I did tax returns for over 30 years and was always amazed at how many people, despite a nice income, had no savings. Or if they did, it was buried in the back yard. A combined salary income of $125,000 to $210,000 (depending on the time period involved) with zero interest income and zero dividend income. Any ":savings" they did was via contributions to their 401(k) plan. Everything else they spent. The middle class is pretty good at consuming.

EclipseAg said:

---

As others have said, it seems we are returning to the old days when dining out was a treat. Restaurants will be for the well-off and fast food/casual chains will decline.

When I was a kid, my family never went to restaurants. Maybe fast food once or twice a year; maybe a nice restaurant if we had out-of-town company. Other than that, we ate at home. I had no idea about ethnic foods; I remember my girlfriend's dad poking fun at me because I had no clue what to order at a Chinese restaurant. I never had Mexican food until I was in college.

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing if all these struggling chains went out of business.

---

I had a similar childhood as you did as far as eating in a restaurant and fast food.

But the part I bolded reminded me of a client I had. He was 8 or so years older than me, an engineer, an Aggie in fact, and he worked for one of the refineries or chemical companies. While I had several clients who had $1,000,000 or more in W-2 income each year, that was from businesses that they owned. This guy had over $1,000,000 per year for the last four or five years he worked. He grew up on a smallish farm and he told me he had never had a pizza until he got to A&M.

BBRex said:

---

techno-ag said:

---

Maybe it's a good thing young people learn how to cook for themselves. It's way cheaper. Maybe they'll learn to brew their own coffee too.

---

If you're living alone or are just a couple, I'm not so sure it's that much cheaper to cook at home than dine out. It is healthier, and good practice for when you do have a family, but I don't think you're saving much money.

---

I AM sure that it is cheaper to cook/prepare food at home. When I was single working at the VA last year before I retired, I always made my own lunch. Sometimes it was a sandwich, using day old bread, sometimes I made made a batch of spaghetti or rice with ground turkey or pork.

All one has to do is look at their stores weekly ad, and buy the items on sale.
As an example, here is the Smith's ad for ABQ; https://www.smithsfoodanddrug.com/weeklyad

A spiral sliced ham, already cooked for $2.49/lb, all you have to do is heat it up. Canned Sweet potatoes $3.50 for 40 oz can, you don't even have to buy the fresh ones at 69 cents/lb and peel and cook.

It's EASY to make your own meals, just have to apply yourself.

one safe place said:

---

AtticusMatlock said:

---

For me it's not a matter of a wealth gap it's a matter of people in the middle class being able to spend on discretionary items while also being able to save responsibly. Right now a lot of people are struggling to make ends meet. I don't care if rich people get richer. Good for them. I want the middle class to simultaneously thrive. And I want people in the lower class to have good opportunities to advance into the middle class.

---

I don't doubt that some are struggling but some of the middle class, whether struggling or not, have created a lot of their own problems. Like the federal government, they have a spending problem. The middle class I am familiar with generally have chosen several things from the menu that includes: two fairly new vehicles (replacing them frequently), a boat or RV or both, side by side or ATV, a pair of jet skis, a $4,000 per year dear lease, live in a house two to four times as nice as the one their parents lived in at their age, season tickets and related costs to attend college or pro sports events, travel all over for youth sports (fall ball/select ball etc.), eat out a lot and/or pay to have food driven to their house, and so on. All of which is fine, their choice, but those sorts of things also plays a large part in the struggling.

I did tax returns for over 30 years and was always amazed at how many people, despite a nice income, had no savings. Or if they did, it was buried in the back yard. A combined salary income of $125,000 to $210,000 (depending on the time period involved) with zero interest income and zero dividend income. Any ":savings" they did was via contributions to their 401(k) plan. Everything else they spent. The middle class is pretty good at consuming.

---

This is why Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover should be required reading for everyone.

insulator_king said:

---

I AM sure that it is cheaper to cook/prepare food at home. When I was single working at the VA last year before I retired, I always made my own lunch. Sometimes it was a sandwich, using day old bread, sometimes I made made a batch of spaghetti or rice with ground turkey or pork.

All one has to do is look at their stores weekly ad, and buy the items on sale.
As an example, here is the Smith's ad for ABQ; https://www.smithsfoodanddrug.com/weeklyad

A spiral sliced ham, already cooked for $2.49/lb, all you have to do is heat it up. Canned Sweet potatoes $3.50 for 40 oz can, you don't even have to buy the fresh ones at 69 cents/lb and peel and cook.

It's EASY to make your own meals, just have to apply yourself.

---

I'm 61 and closing in on retirement, but one thing I've learned the last several years as I've worked away from home during the week with a small apartment is how easy it is to cook healthy, delicious meals at home. Grilled fish, chicken, and occasional beef with ample vegetables. Except for the beef, I can prepare a great dinner for one for about $10. Freeze what you don't eat and use it the next time.

Just takes a small bit of planning and discipline. Kitchen cleanup isn't a big deal either. I can do it faster than I could complain about it. Some people are just very lazy and ignore the obvious solutions in front of them because they require some effort.

You can get soup or salad, burger, side and a drink at Chili's for $10.99. Instead of sitting in Whataburger you can sit at the bar and watch sports. Not sure why anyone goes to fast food anymore.

Bill Bigfoot said:

---

As an insider in the fast food/quick service industry, we are absolutely seeing less young people. Our core customer base is 50 and older. We are saved by being close to our hospital. Unless young people are with parents, we rarely see them.

I've been working to market our business to more teens and young adults (our town isn't exactly full of them), but so far have only been able to slightly turn the tide.

Coming from the logistics world to restaurants is different, but both are economic bellwethers that I don't like the direction they have been headed the last few years.

---

fewer /T93

techno-ag said:

---

Bill Bigfoot said:

---

As an insider in the fast food/quick service industry, we are absolutely seeing less young people. Our core customer base is 50 and older. We are saved by being close to our hospital. Unless young people are with parents, we rarely see them.

I've been working to market our business to more teens and young adults (our town isn't exactly full of them), but so far have only been able to slightly turn the tide.

Coming from the logistics world to restaurants is different, but both are economic bellwethers that I don't like the direction they have been headed the last few years.

---

Thanks for commenting. It's an issue when Biden made everything so much more expensive. I fear it's going to hurt the poor for generations. I encourage young people to seek multiple income streams and pay attention to Dave Ramsey about not wasting their money.

---

I think the inflation caused by the Democrats and allowed by Biden during his term will be a major cause of problems in the near and midterm future...

Lol

jja79 said:

---

You can get soup or salad, burger, side and a drink at Chili's for $10.99. Instead of sitting in Whataburger you can sit at the bar and watch sports. Not sure why anyone goes to fast food anymore.

---

Time, convenience, and kids

Agreed. Stir fries are so easy too.

Choose wisely on the sauce or make your own.

Three meals easily when including rice

Bill Bigfoot said:

---

As an insider in the fast food/quick service industry, we are absolutely seeing less young people. Our core customer base is 50 and older. We are saved by being close to our hospital. Unless young people are with parents, we rarely see them.

I've been working to market our business to more teens and young adults (our town isn't exactly full of them), but so far have only been able to slightly turn the tide.

Coming from the logistics world to restaurants is different, but both are economic bellwethers that I don't like the direction they have been headed the last few years.

---

Fast food is supposed to be a cheap fix but it is now almost as expensive as regular. Taco Bell has become expensive - wtf? So we don't go as much.

My son says Chipotle has more food/$ so he gets that more often as a student.

I don't like exorbitant tip expectations, so we don't eat out as much. The world is changing, some things in America haven't.

4 years ago a large tea at MCD was .99

Now it is $1.89


The $1 menu items are now $2 to $2.19


Whataburger has gotten crazy. $50+ to feed one meal to a family.



$5 hot and ready little Caesar's pizza is now $7


The grocery store isn't much better

Deli lunch meat that was $9lb in 2021 is now $14

Ground beef up 100% in the same 4 years



One often overlooked data point is the % of women that are now employed today versus the past. With more working women having less time to cook, the fast food industry has taken up the slack.


Was having this discussion just last week with a customer about the number of kids under 18 who don't even know what home cooked food is and all they want to eat is fast food burgers and chicken nuggets because that is what a lot of them have only ever known.

JP76 said:

---

4 years ago a large tea at MCD was .99

Now it is $1.89


The $1 menu items are now $2 to $2.19


Whataburger has gotten crazy. $50+ to feed one meal to a family.


$5 hot and ready little Caesar's pizza is now $7


The grocery store isn't much better

Deli lunch meat that was $9lb in 2021 is now $14

Ground beef up 100% in the same 4 years

---

Bidenflation has indeed made groceries more expensive but they still go farther for your dollar than prepared food at restaurants.

Who?mikejones! said:

---

Its like 15 bucks for a steak bowl at Chipotle. Way too much for what you get

---

I order a bowl and ask for the lettuce on the side, and eat half for dinner. Eat the other half the next night with the rest of the lettuce ( doesn't get microwaved).

You don't need a whole bowl for dinner. And don't order the extras. Anyway, mine comes to about $11 which works out to about $5.50 per meal. Simple.

techno-ag said:

---

JP76 said:

---

4 years ago a large tea at MCD was .99

Now it is $1.89


The $1 menu items are now $2 to $2.19


Whataburger has gotten crazy. $50+ to feed one meal to a family.


$5 hot and ready little Caesar's pizza is now $7


The grocery store isn't much better

Deli lunch meat that was $9lb in 2021 is now $14

Ground beef up 100% in the same 4 years

---

Bidenflation has indeed made groceries more expensive but they still go farther for your dollar than prepared food at restaurants.

---

Yes but how much is your time worth?
Between shopping, driving, prepping, cleaning up?

Then gas, electricity, dish soap, water ?


No doubt you pay a price for convenience but it all comes down to how much is your time worth


It's also cheaper to wash your own car, cut your own grass and clean your own house so why just focus on cooking at home ?

JP76 said:

---

It's also cheaper to wash your own car, cut your own grass and clean your own house so why just focus on cooking at home ?

---

If you don't have the money to pay people for these things and keep your head financially above water, then you do them yourself. We did all of these ourselves for many, many years because we didn't have the coin to pay others.

Now that we do, it's an easy tradeoff to pay others and save ourselves the time for other things we enjoy more.

But it's very unwise for folks who don't have the means to pay for stuff they could do themselves. We're all adults and can make choices for ourselves, but I don't want to hear anybody complain about their financial situation when they constantly live beyond their means and refuse to do the things that would improve their situation. I frequently hear others say "I don't have time" to do those things, when in reality they do... it's just that they choose to use that time on other things. Their choice of course, but also their consequences to own.

BBRex said:

---

techno-ag said:

---

https://www.newsnationnow.com/business/slop-bowl-sales-warning-restaurant-chains/

Bidenflation really did a number on restaurants. Hardly a week goes by we don't hear about another one shutting down here in C-Stat.

Quote:

---

Several restaurant chains are sounding the alarm about their customers' attitudes as the country's economy worsens due to inflation and slow hiring numbers.

Chipotle, Sweetgreen and Cava all purveyors of "slop bowls" have seen their stocks drop dramatically in 2025. Chipotle's stock is down about 50% for the year, while Cava has seen a 60% decline. Sweetgreen last week revealed in its earnings that same-store sales slid 9.5% and visits fell nearly 12%.

"The 25-to-35 (year old) consumer is the most under pressure, and they make up about 30% of our consumer base," Sweetgreen's CFO Jamie McConnell said.

Chipotle's CEO Scott Boatwright added the chain is not losing its consumer base to competition, but instead to grocery stores and people eating at home.

---

Maybe it's a good thing young people learn how to cook for themselves. It's way cheaper. Maybe they'll learn to brew their own coffee too.

---

If you're living alone or are just a couple, I'm not so sure it's that much cheaper to cook at home than dine out. It is healthier, and good practice for when you do have a family, but I don't think you're saving much money.

---

A LOT cheaper. Since we are empty nesters, a couple of loaded baked potatoes are maybe 6 bucks all in. A ceaser salad with a some bacon or chicken is the same range for 2. There are about a dozen soups you can make and have extra. Chicken noodle, vegetable, vegetable beef, etc. Some roasted vegetables alone is great. It's all about "want to" and a hell of a lot healthier than most other options and you don't have to drive anywhere. They should put their phones down and get at it, pretty easy to plan 5 meals during the week and save that $150-200.

Oh yeah, RIP Tanya.

JP76 said:

---

techno-ag said:

---

JP76 said:

---

4 years ago a large tea at MCD was .99

Now it is $1.89


The $1 menu items are now $2 to $2.19


Whataburger has gotten crazy. $50+ to feed one meal to a family.


$5 hot and ready little Caesar's pizza is now $7


The grocery store isn't much better

Deli lunch meat that was $9lb in 2021 is now $14

Ground beef up 100% in the same 4 years

---

Bidenflation has indeed made groceries more expensive but they still go farther for your dollar than prepared food at restaurants.

---

Yes but how much is your time worth?
Between shopping, driving, prepping, cleaning up?

Then gas, electricity, dish soap, water ?


No doubt you pay a price for convenience but it all comes down to how much is your time worth


It's also cheaper to wash your own car, cut your own grass and clean your own house so why just focus on cooking at home ?

---

"Convenience".

That is why we are so fat and unhealthy and die of cancer, diabetes, heart problems. Look at any 50 year old man or woman. Most of them look like they are 70.

We put convenience over everything.

If people purchased good quality organic grocery with no/low pesticides and cooked healthy meals at home, they would avoid doctor visits and expensive medicines. My wife has been doing that for 16 years, Whole Foods is expensive but overall worth it. We don't go to the doctor at all, more or less. Our kids just need to go for school, the pediatrician even asked us if we went to a different doctor.

Yes, there is luck, genetics, this and that but food plays a BIG part.

JP76 said:

---

techno-ag said:

---

JP76 said:

---

4 years ago a large tea at MCD was .99

Now it is $1.89


The $1 menu items are now $2 to $2.19


Whataburger has gotten crazy. $50+ to feed one meal to a family.


$5 hot and ready little Caesar's pizza is now $7


The grocery store isn't much better

Deli lunch meat that was $9lb in 2021 is now $14

Ground beef up 100% in the same 4 years

---

Bidenflation has indeed made groceries more expensive but they still go farther for your dollar than prepared food at restaurants.

---

Yes but how much is your time worth?
Between shopping, driving, prepping, cleaning up?

Then gas, electricity, dish soap, water ?


No doubt you pay a price for convenience but it all comes down to how much is your time worth


It's also cheaper to wash your own car, cut your own grass and clean your own house so why just focus on cooking at home ?

---

We're talking about the middle class. Democrat taxes are killing them and they're living paycheck to paycheck. Cheaper for them is good. They don't need to be paying for DoorDash delivery of fast food carbs. They need to preparing healthy stuff at home and be washing their car in the driveway.

Pro tip for reducing your restaurant bills:

Move to a small town where you have few options for restaurants. You are then forced to cook more.

The bowl, even with the extras, tastes terrible. I can't imagine it without them.