The Truth About Takeout and Delivery Habits
Takeout and delivery services are eating away more than just your budget—they’re chewing up your financial future.
Ordering in a few times a week might feel like a harmless treat, but if each order runs you about $40, that’s over $300 a month without breaking a sweat. That’s more than a car payment—or a small emergency fund in the making. You can’t change what you won’t confront, so start by adding it up.
That number might just stop you mid-bite.
The Messaging Is Manipulative—And It’s Working
The delivery giants aren’t just bringing you burgers—they’re selling you a fantasy.
With lines like “You deserve great takeout” and “Delicious eats, delivered easy,” these companies market indulgence like it’s self-care. It’s comfort food, yes—but it’s also costing you your goals. Every time you say “yes” to fast food, you’re saying “not now” to your future self.
And their profit grows while your savings shrink.
What Happened to Eating Out as a Treat?
For past generations, eating out was a luxury—not a lifestyle.
When I was growing up in a single-parent home, dining out was reserved for rare occasions like birthdays or Christmas. My mom used to say that when she was a child, a single scoop of ice cream was a major treat for a family of six. Restaurant meals? Forget it—they were as rare as snow in July.
Maybe it’s time we brought back a bit of that perspective.
From Indulgence to Habit—And the Steep Price Tag
Once-a-month takeout has slowly crept into weekly, even daily habits.
What used to be a once-in-a-while indulgence is now a normalized convenience. That $300 per month? If you redirected it into a low-fee Canadian index ETF and reinvested the dividends, you could fund an early retirement. Sure, you might have to learn to use your stove—but that’s a skill that pays off in flavour and finances.
Because nothing tastes as good as financial freedom feels.
Convenience Isn’t Cheap—And It’s Costing You More Than Money
We’re addicted to “easy”—and it’s making life harder in the long run.
When cravings win, goals lose. That takeout dinner isn’t just chewing up your monthly budget—it’s crowding out your emergency fund, debt payments, or RRSP contributions. And when you stack health risks on top of financial ones, the cost goes sky-high.
All for a lukewarm pizza and a side of regret.
Emma and John Hit the Brakes on Takeout
Emma and John, a busy couple from Calgary, were in the same boat as many Canadians.
They used to order food three times a week without thinking about it—until they downloaded their bank’s free budgeting tool and had a serious “whoa” moment. Over $400 a month was going straight to skip-the-dishes and drive-thru windows. They started meal planning, grocery shopping smarter, and prepping meals on Sunday nights. With the savings, they now invest in their TFSA using Wealthsimple’s auto-invest tool.
Now they’re feasting on peace of mind—and pad Thai made at home.
Action Steps: How to Break the Takeout Habit
1. Track Your Takeout Spending
Use your bank’s free app or try You Need a Budget to see where your money’s going.
2. Set a “Fun Food” Budget
Give yourself a monthly limit for dining out and treat it like any other line item.
3. Make Takeout a Treat Again
Keep it special—birthdays, date nights, or celebrating a win. Not Wednesdays.
4. Cook at Home—Even If You Don’t Love It
Try easy 15-minute recipes or meal kits that cost less than delivery but still feel fancy.
5. Invest the Savings
Open a TFSA or RRSP and invest those leftover dollars. Learn more from the CRA’s TFSA page.
Helpful Canadian Resources
- CRA: Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)
- Manage Your Money: How to Start Budgeting
- Frugal Living Tips for Canadians
- TFSA vs RRSP: What’s Right for You?
- Government Assistance and EI Programs
You Deserve Better Than Takeout
You’re not just buying burgers—you’re selling out your goals.
Cutting back on delivery and dining out won’t make you miserable—it’ll make you mindful. You’ll gain control of your money, your health, and your peace of mind. Remember: fries now or freedom later?
Skip the service. Choose your future.
In my E-books (“Water Barrel” and “The Balance”) I discuss simple methods to live sensibly for today, take charge of your financial affairs, and invest safely for the long term. For more information please visit David Penna Amazon.
The Money Reservoir, a system for managing irregular income. A Smarter Way to Manage Your Finances and Harness the Power of Reservoirs to Break the Paycheque-to-Paycheque Cycle and Build Financial Stability. For more information please visit The Money Reservoir on Amazon
Disclaimer for ManageYourMoney.ca
The information provided on ManageYourMoney.ca is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be taken as financial advice. The opinions shared are those of the authors and are meant to encourage sensible financial habits and decision-making. We recommend that you do your own research or consult a certified financial advisor before making any financial or investment decisions. All investments come with risks, and there is no guarantee of success. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Always consider your personal financial situation and risk tolerance before pursuing any investment opportunities.
As always, we are not a qualified financial advisors. We just relate financial management to our own experience which may not resemble yours at all. Advice is frequently worth exactly what you paid for it. Most of ours came from expensive experiences.
Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
