Can you save over $490 a year by enjoying a delicious Stouffer’s Easy Express meal with your family of four, instead of going out to a restaurant just once a month? Walmart says you can, and I think they’re right. A recent Parade insert from the Sunday paper included an ad by Walmart which made the statement, “Save over $490 a year”. The ad made reference to Stouffer’s Easy Express Meals, but I had also seen another ad stating the same savings for Wanchai Ferry. I found it to be pretty interesting and wanted to learn more. According to the ad, the savings was based on an independent survey of casual dining meal spending reported by consumers who eat at a casual dining restaurant at least once per month, as compared with Walmart’s price per serving for a restaurant-style entree, salad and bread.
Based on their survey, the average family of four spends about $40 for a meal at a casual dining restaurant. This is almost right on the money with what we spend. We are a family of five, but our three year old usually either eats what we’re eating, or we order a kid’s meal for him. The meal that is suggested in the ad is Stouffer’s Easy Express Lasagna (35oz) on rollback for $6, to be served alongside salad and bread. This would make the meal right around $10 or a little less, a considerable savings over eating out at the restaurant. We usually eat out once or twice a month, but the national average may be a little higher than that.
Most families eat out at a restaurant out of necessity because of a tight schedule, exhaustion, or any number of other reasons. Nearly all of our meal planning is done in advance and planned out so that if we do have a tight schedule, we have something that is simple and quick, ready to eat. We do however enjoy eating out at restaurants. It is a fun experience, we enjoy the atmosphere, and above all we enjoy the food. Our family enjoys eating out as much as the next family, but being budget conscious requires us to really think about where our money goes.
I like that the Walmart ad suggests an alternative for eating out. When I first encountered the ad I was really skeptical about what Walmart was trying to advertise. Thinking about the ad further though I thought about the definite savings that a family would see if they ate the suggested meal. The meal isn’t bad, and I think the lasagna is cheaper than what I could make at home from scratch. In a sense it’s about saving time and money since most families are pressed for time with the numerous activities that a family is involved in, especially with the holidays right around the corner.
On another note though if you find it difficult to say no to eating out, check out Dana’s article from Frugal In Virginia on “3 Ways To Save On Eating Out”.