Save Money on Fast Food by Buying the Big Size

Here's a money saving tip from the Consumer Reports Money Blog:

Buy the big size and split it. “With the mega-sizing of restaurant meals, sharing is the best way to save money and improve your health at the same time,” says Dayle Hayes, a registered dietitian in Billings, Mont.

For example, at one major fast-food chain, splitting a large order of fries instead of buying two medium-sized ones will save you and your lunch mate 190 calories (90 of them from fat) and about $1.59. And that’s just the fries.

We do this with our kids at Wendy's. Instead of buying two small fries, we get the "biggie" size and have them split it. Better yet, sometimes my wife or I will get the "meal" with fries and give those to the kids. Of course, this is when we even do get fries. Wendy's and others are now offering healthier side dishes, so we're now opting for these quite often.

Comments

[Foobarista]

When we're on the road, my wife and I will buy the super-sized meal and one extra burger. That's enough for us...

[Ken]

i saw some posts about this recently. Buying the big size isn't always the best deal.

For example.

Chicken at KFC was like $0.50 a piece in small size, $0.55 in medium and $0.65 in large.

[TheJapChap]

How cheap are we?? When my wife and I go to Wendy's, we order two Jr. Bacon's, a Chili, and a Small Fry off the value menu. We'll request two cups of water and get a decent, albeit small, meal for under $4.50! Anybody else??

[TheRealJZ]

Echoing that TheJapChap - We never 'biggie' size our meals. We'll usually have one person get a 'numbered' meal and the other gets just a sandwich. We split the fries and the drink.

When dining by myself at fast food restaurants I never get a drink and rarely get fries (at Wendy's I'll get a baked potatoe). I always ask for a cup of water instead. Probably saves $1.25 - $1.59 and keeps me from loading up on empty calories.

My all time favorite cheap lunch: Wendy's - a cup of chilli and a sour cream and chive baked potatoe. Don't think they're $0.99 anymore...might be $1.29 each - still...lunch comes in at under $3 and that combo will definitely fill you up!

[anna]

that brings back memories -- when we were kids, my parents would get two fries (for like 3 kids) and put them all in a bag. We'd shake up the ketchup and salt in the bag and just eat them like that, sitting in the back of the car. Those were good times.

[No Debt Plan]

An alternative to this is if you are eating inside the restaurant and they give free refills (or a standing soda area to do it yourself), then get the small size and share it. You can refill as many times as you want.

[Catherine]

Is this an early April Fools joke????

I save money on fast food by NEVER eating it. EVER.

I've got a relative, who during a financial downturn, talked of having switched to smoking generic ciggarrettes. I thought, "Saving up for the iron lung, eh?"

Your family's long term financial and physical health is best served by staying out of those places. Think of them (and soda companies) as crack dealers selling Flabby Meals. Once your kiddies taste those fries & Pepsi, or play with the little lead coated plastic thingie thrown in with their nuggets, you'll face his/her tantrums to go back to buy the whole set of plastic thingies. Even if you have the will to resist, it's gonna cost Mom an extra bottle of wine to deal with the stress. Well, on second thought, maybe that's not such a bad idea.....

[thomas]

Now I'm hungry for Wendy's.

[make money]

So ummm… whose going to take part in this proposed research program? Any takers? Oooh and you get a free t- shirt if you willingly agree to poison your own kids. CHEERS to that!