Yes but your "free" time is valuable in a different way. I cheerfully cook for myself and my family on occasion, but having to do it all the time (for a family

Yes but your "free" time is valuable in a different way. I cheerfully cook for myself and my family on occasion, but having to do it all the time (for a family which has different conflicting dietary issues) is not much fun. (We don't eat out much for reasons of health as much as anything.) I just wouldn't make the cost argument -- it doesn't hold water.