Yes, fast food has gotten ridiculous. When I eat out, usually a few times a week during lunch, I get the double cheese meal from McD's. $4.30 for a sandwich, fries and large drink. Cheapest thing they sell as a combo.

Other than that, we eat out as a family a few times a month when the kids pay for dinner. We usually go to Hardee's or Jack in the Box then. But we have it down to a science, and usually the 4 of us can eat for $30 or less. Which isn't bad for fast food. Otherwise I cook. One because I love to, and two because I can get three of four meals out of that same $30. Sometimes more. I am an avid bargain shopper and coupon fanatic. I love to see how cheap I can score things we eat/use a lot. But none of this fake "coupon TV" junk! I do it for real. Two years ago, one of my local stores got Miracle Whip on sale for a stupid cheap price, something like $1.75 a jar if you bought 2. Then I snagged a bunch of $1.50 off a jar coupons from Ebay. Ended up with 22 jars of $4.00 Miracle Whip for .25 a jar! It was great!

I shop Aldi's and my local produce stand for produce. The prices can't be touched by anyone else. Saw two young guys this morning at Schnucks, bought 2 lousy little peaches for $1.55. I got 20 from Aldi's for .29 each. You get the idea.

Gale