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If you're careful about collecting fast-food coupons, you can still get meals for under $10. I can get a Whopper Meal for around $9, even after paying extra to substitute coffee for the soda. They never ask me to turn in the coupon, and I don't volunteer it, so I keep reusing it. (The phone apps also offer fast food deals.)
My local Chinese takeout places charge around $9 to $10 for a meal. Most of them also have small dining areas if you want to eat with a friend. Drinks, of course, cost extra, but a can or bottle of soda is reasonably priced. It's cheaper to skip the drink and get takeout.
Lately, pizza places have been offering takeout deals for as little as $10. Both Sam's Club and Costco offer similar bargains on takeout pizza.
I remember when I could go to Wendy's and get a Dave's Single meal for $5. Those days are long gone, and the cost of eating out has at least doubled. As a result, I now save the more expensive restaurants for special occasions and eat at the cheaper places whenever I'm in the mood to dine out.
I'm a terrible cook, but I'm learning.
Buying an air fryer changed my life. French fries, chicken nuggets, chicken patties, and chicken tenders cooked in an air fryer aren't quite as good as the deep-fried versions from fast-food restaurants, but they're close enough—and so much cheaper—that they're absolutely worth making at home. (I get better results using frozen steak fries instead of the shoestring fries. It is important to not overcook them because they will dry out. I only have to cook them for 9 minutes.)
It's also easy to make sandwiches at home. Grocery stores offer a wide variety of breads, and deli turkey with ranch dressing and bacon bits makes a delicious sandwich.
