High-income Americans rarely mix with poorer people. Restaurants like Applebee's and Olive Garden are the exception
High-income Americans rarely mix with poorer people. Restaurants like Applebee's and Olive Garden are the exception
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Call it an anecdote but I have never seen a single person at Applebee's who looked like they earned more than $30,000/yr
I haven't been to an Applebee's since like 2010, but I'm gonna assume going out to eat at Applebee's has also gotten more expensive to the point where your comment is probably less valid than it was in like 2010.
Like, I don't think someone earning 30k/yr is able to budget in a night out at Applebee's rn.
I feel like I’m about to reveal a ton of disconnect but, how cheap would it need to be to be affordable on a 30k salary? I’m not trying to be an ass, I genuinely don’t know.
I checked the menu of an Applebee’s near me. You can get two meals for less than $36, including tip. This is at a very high cost of living area (South Bay Area). That’s like $18 if you’re splitting it. I don’t go to Applebee’s a lot, is that actually much more than it used to be or unaffordable in today’s 30k?
Well, it's anecdotal, but when I was earning <$30k a year, I wouldn't go to a restaurant if I couldn't get a good meal for less than $10, pre tip. I think I went to Applebee's once, when they had an unlimited wing deal for ~$13, and that was a way to eat for two days in one meal.
That's better than I was assuming tbh.
I'd say on 30k, you're foolish to spend more than 30 a head on a night out, and those nights need to be like once a month tops.
So I guess it's more doable than I assumed.
You are correct. It's better to just find a local place to eat, which will have better food at basically the same price. Just like fast food out pricing it's worth, these places all feel very weird now that they can't compete with the pricing they were originally made for.
How would you know?
Not everyone who's rich, dresses like Richie Rich. Plenty dress down, dress frugally or simply don't give a fuck about impressing diners in a chain restaurant. Hell, I used to work for a bank, and some of our richest clients looked borderline homeless.
I mean, you can dress like Zuckerberg for 50 bucks. Sure, his boring ass t-shirts actually costs a few hundred, but you wouldn't be able to tell unless you took a really close look. Old money also loves going under the radar.
LOL, the beach bums around here are often multi-millionaires with nothing better to do than get fucked up on the beach. Don't judge people around here based on appearance!
Old money doesn't drive rusty Saturn and Pontiac sedans with mismatched body panels though.
That's because we dress for the restaurant.
Seriously. Nobody is putting on even a dress shirt to go to Applebees.
Does no one dress nicely for anything any longer? Hell, I shower and dress nicely for when my wife comes home from work. I wish to be attractive for her when she arrives.
And if anyone equates dressing well with "uncomfortable" and/or "expensive", they're a child needing some fashion tips and advice.
Yes, when it's appropriate. I always dress for the occasion. Applebee's is very low on the occasion scale.
It's also kind of weird to dress up for your spouse just so they find you attractive. I'd rather be found attractive regardless of attire, and save dressing up for something special.
We disagree! And that's great, means we can talk!
I dress up for my woman every day before she comes home from work. (I work from home.)
It takes almost no extra effort. Why shouldn't I? I've heard my wife brag to her friends, "He is so 'pogie' when I come home, and he does it for me!" (Apparently 'pogie' is 'hot' or 'cute' in Tagalog. 🤷🏻♂️)
And it makes me feel good about myself, so why not?
My college roommate dressed nice, tie and all, for an algebra exam. I laughed.
"Fuck are you doing?!"
"I dress nice, feel good about myself, do better on the test."
That was a life-changing moment for me.