Comments on: The Cost of Dinner Parties (Or, Should We Just Go Out to Eat?) http://www.financegetspersonal.com/2008/08/12/the-cost-of-dinner-parties-or-should-we-just-go-out-to-eat/ Personal Finance Blog of a Girl Trying to Get Out of Debt and Change Careers Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:39:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Finance Gets Personal » The Dinner Party vs. Restaurant Verdict http://www.financegetspersonal.com/2008/08/12/the-cost-of-dinner-parties-or-should-we-just-go-out-to-eat/#comment-1410 Finance Gets Personal » The Dinner Party vs. Restaurant Verdict Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:49:07 +0000 http://www.financegetspersonal.com/?p=360#comment-1410 [...] few monthly dinner parties ago, I lamented about how expensive the whole process was, and whether it would be cheaper just to go out to eat. So tonight, I tested that theory. Instead of planning a menu, shopping, taking a half day off [...] [...] few monthly dinner parties ago, I lamented about how expensive the whole process was, and whether it would be cheaper just to go out to eat. So tonight, I tested that theory. Instead of planning a menu, shopping, taking a half day off [...]

]]> By: Finance Gets Personal » Dinner Club Revelations http://www.financegetspersonal.com/2008/08/12/the-cost-of-dinner-parties-or-should-we-just-go-out-to-eat/#comment-1031 Finance Gets Personal » Dinner Club Revelations Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:51:07 +0000 http://www.financegetspersonal.com/?p=360#comment-1031 [...] was my turn to host the monthly Girls’ Dinner Club. I served: Italian Tomato & Cheese Bread Spinach Salad with Warm Balsamic Walnut Dressing [...] [...] was my turn to host the monthly Girls’ Dinner Club. I served: Italian Tomato & Cheese Bread Spinach Salad with Warm Balsamic Walnut Dressing [...]

]]> By: financegirl http://www.financegetspersonal.com/2008/08/12/the-cost-of-dinner-parties-or-should-we-just-go-out-to-eat/#comment-531 financegirl Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:46:20 +0000 http://www.financegetspersonal.com/?p=360#comment-531 That's true, but I don't typically order alcohol, appetizers and dessert at a restaurant since it is just for me and I'm cheap! However, I don't feel I can just serve my friends a main course and a water... But you also have to consider the time that goes into preparing the meal, versus just plopping down in a booth and ordering. That’s true, but I don’t typically order alcohol, appetizers and dessert at a restaurant since it is just for me and I’m cheap! However, I don’t feel I can just serve my friends a main course and a water… But you also have to consider the time that goes into preparing the meal, versus just plopping down in a booth and ordering.

]]> By: Theresa http://www.financegetspersonal.com/2008/08/12/the-cost-of-dinner-parties-or-should-we-just-go-out-to-eat/#comment-530 Theresa Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:41:36 +0000 http://www.financegetspersonal.com/?p=360#comment-530 Here you're not exactly comparing apples to apples if you're only spending $12 on a restaurant meal. My husband and I find that we can throw a dinner party for 5-10 people and still save money vs going out to eat, since we'll drink wine and probably have an appetizer or dessert at either. Here you’re not exactly comparing apples to apples if you’re only spending $12 on a restaurant meal. My husband and I find that we can throw a dinner party for 5-10 people and still save money vs going out to eat, since we’ll drink wine and probably have an appetizer or dessert at either.

]]> By: financegirl http://www.financegetspersonal.com/2008/08/12/the-cost-of-dinner-parties-or-should-we-just-go-out-to-eat/#comment-529 financegirl Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:50:50 +0000 http://www.financegetspersonal.com/?p=360#comment-529 FAM - You're so right! I feel guilty about all those dinner parties a couple we're friends with used to throw that we never reciprocated. I always just rationalized that I wasn't a very good cook and didn't have time to do such things myself...little did I know how much they cost! FAM - You’re so right! I feel guilty about all those dinner parties a couple we’re friends with used to throw that we never reciprocated. I always just rationalized that I wasn’t a very good cook and didn’t have time to do such things myself…little did I know how much they cost!

]]> By: Moments of Fame « Funny about Money http://www.financegetspersonal.com/2008/08/12/the-cost-of-dinner-parties-or-should-we-just-go-out-to-eat/#comment-528 Moments of Fame « Funny about Money Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:51:39 +0000 http://www.financegetspersonal.com/?p=360#comment-528 [...] among the Editors Choices but a tale near & dear to my heart, Finance Girl’s story about what it actually costs to entertain friends with a nice dinner! Meanwhile, at Value for Your Life Amanda is determined to have her cake and eat it, too: she [...] [...] among the Editors Choices but a tale near & dear to my heart, Finance Girl’s story about what it actually costs to entertain friends with a nice dinner! Meanwhile, at Value for Your Life Amanda is determined to have her cake and eat it, too: she [...]

]]> By: Funny about Money http://www.financegetspersonal.com/2008/08/12/the-cost-of-dinner-parties-or-should-we-just-go-out-to-eat/#comment-527 Funny about Money Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:27:16 +0000 http://www.financegetspersonal.com/?p=360#comment-527 Excellent post! A friend who is THE most awesome cook invites people to dinner all the time remarked that her partner was getting crabby a) at the cost and b) that none of the guests were returning the favors. Then she (friend) told me how much one of those dinners costs. Gasp!!! I immediately asked them over to my house. Matter of fact, I need to do that again. Right away. :-D Excellent post! A friend who is THE most awesome cook invites people to dinner all the time remarked that her partner was getting crabby a) at the cost and b) that none of the guests were returning the favors. Then she (friend) told me how much one of those dinners costs. Gasp!!!

I immediately asked them over to my house. Matter of fact, I need to do that again. Right away. :-D

]]> By: LivingAlmostLarge http://www.financegetspersonal.com/2008/08/12/the-cost-of-dinner-parties-or-should-we-just-go-out-to-eat/#comment-513 LivingAlmostLarge Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:14:48 +0000 http://www.financegetspersonal.com/?p=360#comment-513 Because hosting is always pricy! You forgot beer and whine. And you forgot that in a restaurant you can eat an entree and talk home half. At a dinner party you have appetizer, entree and dessert! When my DH and I entertain it's pricy. We'll smoke pork ribs, grill salmon, buy beer and wine, make appetizer, side dishes, and apple pie. $100 easy! Because hosting is always pricy! You forgot beer and whine. And you forgot that in a restaurant you can eat an entree and talk home half. At a dinner party you have appetizer, entree and dessert!

When my DH and I entertain it’s pricy. We’ll smoke pork ribs, grill salmon, buy beer and wine, make appetizer, side dishes, and apple pie. $100 easy!

]]> By: plonkee http://www.financegetspersonal.com/2008/08/12/the-cost-of-dinner-parties-or-should-we-just-go-out-to-eat/#comment-508 plonkee Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:34:38 +0000 http://www.financegetspersonal.com/?p=360#comment-508 I guess that good food is just expensive. I mean if you think about it, although restaurants have to pay the staff and make a profit, they also have economies of scale. I guess that good food is just expensive. I mean if you think about it, although restaurants have to pay the staff and make a profit, they also have economies of scale.

]]> By: financegirl http://www.financegetspersonal.com/2008/08/12/the-cost-of-dinner-parties-or-should-we-just-go-out-to-eat/#comment-506 financegirl Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:09:33 +0000 http://www.financegetspersonal.com/?p=360#comment-506 Yes, the chicken is one of the few recipes I've made multiple times. It's really good, but it's more moist if you cover it with foil while it's in the oven. A lady at my work also makes it, and she says it's just as good reheated in the oven the second day - so it would be good to prepare the night ahead of time, if I wasn't always spending the entire night cleaning! (hmm...so much for advance planning - between football practice, watching gymnastics, cleaning and making pie, it's now after midnight - sigh) Yes, the chicken is one of the few recipes I’ve made multiple times. It’s really good, but it’s more moist if you cover it with foil while it’s in the oven. A lady at my work also makes it, and she says it’s just as good reheated in the oven the second day - so it would be good to prepare the night ahead of time, if I wasn’t always spending the entire night cleaning! (hmm…so much for advance planning - between football practice, watching gymnastics, cleaning and making pie, it’s now after midnight - sigh)

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