Dollar Menus
By Kareng
@kareng (61740)
United States
February 22, 2009 11:08pm CST
I'm sure you have noticed the dollar menus at McDonalds, Wendys, Burger King and the like. I sometimes will stop in for an ice cream on my way home from work or even go through the drive through at lunch for a chicken sandwich. Ordering from the dollar menu suits me just fine. The sandwich isn't quite as large as a regular one, but if you get a small order of fries with it, I find that I"m full and had plenty to eat. I'm not only saving money but also not over-eating.
So what about you? Do you order from the Dollar Menu? Have you recently started with the economy the way it is or has this been a long time habit of yours? I have to say that I've been a fan of the Dollar Menu for quite some time now. I usually bring drinks from home or will drink water with my meals so buying two items off the Dollar Menu will be just fine with me.
7 people like this
28 responses
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I've honestly rarely ordered from the dollar menu because there is rarely anything I want up there. I've been avoiding fast food altogether lately. However when I do go, the stuff I want like Fish sandwiches are not on there. i don't eat meat so it's even harder!
On the other hand - my husband almost always uses the 1$ menu. He will get 3-4 things though so it makes up a whole meal. It's kind of nice that he can get that variety of things for the same price as one regular burger would cost.
3 people like this
@kareng (61740)
• United States
3 Mar 09
Yep, when you can put together a whole meal for less than ordering a combo meal, the dollar menu works out well. Really good too for families with children! Too bad they don't have fish sandwiches on the dollar menu. I think this would be a great addition! Let's protest! Have a great day!
2 people like this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
3 Mar 09
Well it's actually better that they dont have many options for me because it helps me stay away :) I try to stay away from fast food now as much as I can. I'll eat stuff like Panera and Qdoba b/c they make the food fresh - but I won't do McDonalds, Wendys, etc unless I'm on the road and have no other option.
1 person likes this
@mgmagana (3618)
• United States
3 Mar 09
i always order from the dollar menu..it saves me so much..from mcd's i used to get the double cheeseburger but now it's the mcdouble...from wendys i just get the cheeseburger...from burger king which is my favorite dollar menu i get the whopper jr.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
13 Apr 09
I love the whopper jr. I love Whopper's, and no one really needs the big sandwich and all of the calories. I like to get a frosty from Wendy's.
1 person likes this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
23 Feb 09
We order off the dollar menu all the time. My teenage boys will eat 4 sandwiches, but hey usually one sandwich is $3, so we are getting a deal.
We use to order the double cheeseburgers off the dollar menu, and they took it off. They replaced it with the mcdouble. It is like a double cheeseburger, but only one piece of cheese. So if you don't care about the second piece of cheese, make sure to order the mcdouble and not the double cheeseburger or you will be charged more.
1 person likes this
@sweetcake1369 (210)
• United States
23 Feb 09
The price difference is only 19 cents to be exact. I will keep my cheese. :)
1 person likes this
@mslovely101 (177)
• United States
23 Feb 09
I love the dollar menu's and they are good to save money. Sometimes I don't want to eat a lot because, I want to try to not gain too much weight. Using the dollar menu is not really a good comparison if you are trying to diet, in which case you should eat salads. Salad is healthier but, I don't think that is on any dollar menu.
1 person likes this
@ellen_mom (174)
• United States
24 Feb 09
There used to be a salad on the $1 menu at Wendy's as well. Actually, 2, a side salad and a ceasar salad...
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
23 Feb 09
All the time! I like Burger King Whoppers and the Jr. Whopper is a dollar, regular is $3.19! I can get 2 for less than the price of one..and then save the second one for later!
I also did the pricing and eating of the happy meals for kids...$4 for a chicken tender 4 piece. But if I buy 2, 4 piece chicken tenders off the dollar menu, a small fry and a small drink - I still spend $4 but get that extra chicken instead of a stupid toy that will be in the trash by the next day!
I always orde a small drink, as refills are free if I eat in, but if it is take out - I just wait nad have my ice tea at home!
If you look at what is offered.. you can always get just as much or more for less.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
23 Feb 09
Here's another saver - I heard on the news last week that El Pollo Loco (a fast food mexican chicken place) is taking ALL other competitors coupons...as long as it is for something they carry equivalent..like a chicken sandwich or chicken tenders/fingers etc. Gives us the option to go there for their food when they don't put out coupons for us but we like their food! I don't care anything for it - no big differenece to me than other places, but others like it... just watch for those other chicken coupons!
1 person likes this
@MaryLynn321 (2680)
• United States
23 Feb 09
We don't go out to eat anymore, but I will get the $1.00 soda once in awhile for a treat. Which is a Large soda for $1.00. But, if we should go out, we do order from the $1.00 menu. Which is a good price and just the right amount of food.
1 person likes this
@MaryLynn321 (2680)
• United States
23 Feb 09
I love the chicken nuggets for $1.00. It is a nice snack.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
24 May 09
Well, there are many times lately I have been known to order the $2.99 specials from these places which is the sandwich, fries and drink, and it is a great quick meal when time is limited, or when you might not have a lot of extra money as well. Personally I could not imagine not having a $1 menu to choose from.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
13 Apr 09
I do not eat out if I can help it. I have favorite economical meals from McDonalds. Like I love their Big N Tasty sandwich, and I will get apple dippers with it, not fries. Or a snack wrap. Not necessarily $1, but not expensive. Dairy Queen has some Sweet Deals, and I like Arby's 5 for $5.95, two of us can eat well for that.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
23 Feb 09
I cut out eating from restaurants period when I have better food at home.
1 person likes this
@melanie652 (2524)
• United States
27 Feb 09
You're right about you can get a filling meal off the dollar menu. It's also a great way to save money. I'm always for saving money!
1 person likes this
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
13 Apr 09
I usually get the dollar chicken sandwich at Wendy's because it is basically the same as the regular fried chicken patty that they charge $1.50 more for on the regular menu. I have yet to make it to Sonic or Red Robin for their dollar menu but everyone says it is great. I like the dollar menu items at McDonald's but the last time I went there I got such poor service I swore them off forever. Even though Long John Silver's doesn't have a bargain side to their menu I like what they have to offer and you never leave there hungry.
1 person likes this
@kareng (61740)
• United States
20 Apr 09
I love Wendy's $1.00 crispy chicken sandwich! It is so much better than the spicy mcChicken from McDonalds :) Those seem to be hit or miss with the pepper. Some are so hot you can't eat them without crying! We don't have Red Robin or Long John Silvers here...boo!
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
26 May 09
I just did as a matter of fact. On Friday evening, I went for coffee with a friend. I hadn't had any lunch. I just got busy, and forgot I guess. Well we stopped at Burger King and I got a Whopper Jr. for a $1. Nice and quick.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
23 May 09
I don't really eat @ McD's too much. I agree the dollar menu is a decent price but you are right too the sizes are smaller and seems almost hardly with a dollar in my opinion. The med fry used to be on the dollar menu now it's the small...
@kareng (61740)
• United States
23 May 09
That's true and it depends on where you go as to if the burger is really worth it. I find Wendy's chicken sandwich is good, especially since it isn't loaded with red pepper. And Burger King has the whopper Jr. on the dollar menu, that's a pretty good deal! Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!!
@BinaryKat (735)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I definitely buy from the dollar menu I found for the same price you pay for say a hamburger you can get more for your buck on the dollar menu. Like if a big mac by itself cost 5 dollars, I could get like a small drink, small fry, 2 apple pies, and a double cheeseburger with that same 5 bucks. I just love the dollar menu because I can stretch my dollars and still get enough to eat. Matter of fact yesterday, I was at Burger King and I got a whopper jr, small drink and onion rings for under 5 dollars.
1 person likes this
@Cajunhellcat (2073)
• United States
24 Feb 09
I'm not to fond of the fast food I try and cook enought at night to take to work the next day
1 person likes this
@kareng (61740)
• United States
25 Feb 09
That is what we do at home when I cook. Or at least save a plate for the day after the next so you don't eat the same thing 2 days in a row. My husband gets tired of that but if I do this every night, he isn't eating the same thing every day. Have a wonderful day, cajunhellcat!
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I carry bottles of water in the car with me so that when I am out and about I dont have to stop for a quick drink that ends up costing me money and extra calories. When we do stop I always check the dollar menu first. I can usualy get a full meal for my family from it.
1 person likes this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
24 Feb 09
I almost always order off the Dollar Menu unless I am really craving a Big Mac. Then I will get one of those. It seems silly to me to spend $6 on a Value Meal when you can get enough food off the dollar menu to fill up yourself and another person for the same $6.
1 person likes this
@TnWoman (1895)
• United States
23 Feb 09
hello kareng
i know what you mean by buying items off of the dollar menu these days. i do not see anything wrong with the dollar menu's at fast food restaurants like that at all. that is what that i order for both of my boy's at McDonald's is off of the dollar menu, but the thing about them ordering off of the dollar menu is that they have to have two or three dollar items. lol i like the yogart parfaits off of McDonald's dollar menu. they are always so good and refreshing. and i love it when McDonald's has their fish sandwiches on sell like that for a dollar. that is about my favorite thing to order from McDonald's is the fish sandwich when that it is on sell. but yeah, the dollar menu's at the fast food restaurants like that are so awesome!
take care and have a beautiful day today!
@kareng (61740)
• United States
23 Feb 09
They are a good idea. My husband hadn't even noticed them until I pointed them out. He is bad about ordering a meal deal and then an extra sandwich. Regular price on a sandwich is now over $2. So buying his extra from the dollar menu actually saves a good bit over a year's time.
@reneerose (106)
• United States
27 Feb 09
We travel alot and we are a large family. Eating off of the dollar menus can be less expensive than stopping at the grocer if you do it right!
We allow each person to pick one hot item (sandwich, nuggets) off the dollar menu, but you do not want to be ordering the sides & beverages...they are easy to replace cheaply. We do have water and juice along in the car as well as some sides like pretzels, cut veggies. Sandwiches at the grocery are usually $3-6 each around here and even if you get bread, lunchmeat, cheese, lettuce and tomato ....it can easily end up being more than $1 per person.
With 7 kids, we have learned how to travel cheaply but still have satisfied tummies!!!
1 person likes this
