During the year I've cut back on eating out due to the very high prices being charged at restaurants, even fast food restaurants. The prices have escalated dra

During the year I've cut back on eating out due to the very high prices being charged at restaurants, even fast food restaurants. The prices have escalated dramatically since the pandemic, yet my salary hasn't gone up to match. This inflationary environment makes me very frustrated and I feel like I can't get ahead, but I digress. Anyway, because of ridiculously high prices for eating out these days, I largely don't eat out except for social events. Even when I'm away from home, I go to grocery stores such as Whole Foods and Safeway and purchase grab-and-go foods. It's cheaper, healthier, and tastier for me. I think there will be a day of reckoning coming for the fast food industry where they'll price themselves out of existence. If a "techie" is complaining about $11 fast food combo meals, then imagine who are low-income who can't afford these prices at all. Companies like McDonald's and Taco Bell built their empires on cheap food, but nowadays the food isn't cheap anymore, yet the quality isn't there. Yes, I understand that the fast food industry itself has been dealing with increased costs for food, real estate, utilities, and labor. But I feel something has to give.