Monday, September 5, 2022

Money Monday-Meal Kit Subscription

     


     I guess this falls in a Money Monday theme and a post I've been noodling for a while. Recently I've been tempted to give the meal kit delivery services a try. Our friends, also empty nesters decided they weren't happy with both the variety of meals they were eating and if they did make a certain recipe, the amount of waste leftover ingredients generated. They do Hello Fresh and just love it. She offered to send me her code for free boxes. 

     Coincidentally, I got in the mail a few days after an offer for 17 free meals. Well, since we'd only do the two person, it was 9 free over 6 weeks. I took a look at the site to see the examples of meals that could be ordered. Fair variety, but nothing ground breaking. Time range from 20 minutes to sometimes as much as an hour to prepare, but I guess that would probably be oven time. 

     I calculated how much per plate we'd be spending. It came  $333 over 6 weeks. $55.50 per week didn't seem too bad to have it come right to our door, using our regular shops to stick for the month and top offs. We easily could spend that having dinner out, with taxes and tip, particularly if we added a drink. However, the cost really hit reality though to see the price per plate was $9.25, and that's with the freebies. After those run out, then it's about $12. Woah! That's likely with no leftovers. 

     I know there are lower cost options, but I only know people personally that used Hello Fresh. For a new cook, a trial for 6 weeks might be great to get a start learning some basic skills and building confidence. For two people with long commutes and hectic evening schedules, it might fill in gaps that otherwise might be take out. It could be a fun activity to do with others in your house, trying something new. I can see some merits. 

     I can't see what advantage it would give us though. It wouldn't reduce my trips shopping by much- there's still four days, plus breakfast and lunch. I doubt it would reduce meals out as that's entertainment, or as I've lamented, DH's "get out of the store" lunches. I'd miss having leftovers for lunch. Even if I didn't finish mine, I could see DH not being satisfied some days with his portion ( even though probably better) and me putting part of my portion on his plate. I also try and eat before 7, and DH gets home later. We certainly wouldn't be cooking together, as we haven't for 35 years! 

     Make your own mind up as it could work for you and your household. As we look to gradually change our lifestyle, I'm checking out new ways of doing life. Meal delivery kits won't be it, but it was worth looking into.

22 comments:

  1. I haven't tried any of the meal kits. Like you said, for a new cook or people with very little time I can see the benefit. But as always it sounds like you're paying extra for the convenience.
    I did try a variety box of meat from Cooks Venture. They had a 50.00 off code. We've been happy with it but I think for us, the local meat we get comes out cheaper.

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    1. I do think it's good to try options to help make life easier. We all need to weigh out the benefits compared to price.

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  2. I personally don't see how these are cost effective for anyone. I, too, have run the numbers on various kits and like you said, even with freebies the cost per plate is high. And you still have to do all the work. I'm amazed so many people consider them a good option. And don't get me started on the waste. My neighbors get them and the boxes and disposable ice packs pile up quickly, although, I will admit to snatching a few of the ice packs from their trash as they can be reused.

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    1. I don't think they are cost effective either if just looking at food. But, compared to never learning to cook, or expensive restaurant meals, I might see for some people. They are just not a fit for us.

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  3. I use meal kits that are prepped and you just have to heat. Like gobble and hime chef fresh and ready. You may have to heat in two steps but no chopping or prep. I find them to be a reasonable part. They don't feed me 7 days a week I get either two or three a week. I also have a place in my area thar delivers hime cooked meals for two. Orange chicken. Rice and broccoli with two servings is ten bucks. For me it works and I'm still doing a small aldi run.

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    1. Orange chicken is delicious and the easy bags with rice and a veg make a nice easy meal.

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  4. I looked into them and see no benefit for us. I like to cook and certainly have time most days. Leftovers are my lunch every day, unless there is a lot leftover and then it get frozen for a meal another week.
    Son2 and DIL2 use them sometimes and they both like the convenience since they both get home at after 6.
    Son3 and DIL3 used to use them but they live in an apartment in the city and if their box was delivered when no one was home it would be stolen. Why voluntarily feed thieves?

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    1. I too like having leftovers for lunch. If we used these, no doubt my grocery. Budget would go up at least $150, and less meals.

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  5. The only time we liked it was for teaching Nick how to cook during COVID lockdowns. It reduced our need to go to the store, and helped him learn to cook. It certainly wasn't price effective. For me, it did actually help with the cooking, as the recipes were so clear, and all of the ingredients were together. He couldn't pick up a regular recipe, for example, and accomplish the same thing.

    I recently talked my sister into canceling her services (she uses 2, & still gets meat deliveries). I convinced her to cancel both meal services, until she's used up the meat in her freezer. I got her started by finding two weeks worth of recipes for meat she had a large quantity of.

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    1. I can see gifting my youngest in her first real apartment. She cooked very little at school, but what she did, was good. This would teach her variety.

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  6. I have friends that use one of these kits, but then they are so busy, the time saved going grocery shopping and meal planning is more important to the them. I enjoy the meal planning and prepping, though I am out of my routine a bit, but I already have started to work on that.

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    1. It's a nice option if people think it's solves some life needs. I want to enjoy meal prep again. That's the reason I considered it.

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  7. We have tried 2 different meal kits and Misfit Market. Here is my review. We did this during last tax season. I was working 50 hours a week, my autistic son was primarily responsible for cooking and we didn't want to have 3 months of boy meals, and wanted to reduce our waste.
    Hello Fresh had slightly more upscale meals. Each meal was in it separate bag and nothing got lost. However I felt the "free" meals advertising was misleading. Basically, you got the first set for 50%, second for 25%, third for 15% and fourth for 10%. However all of the food was delicious and I have to admit I learned some new techniques. i would do this again but not on an everyday basis.

    Every Plate is owned by Hello Fresh and the meals are similar but less expensive. Where HF had homemade meals like meatloaf and baked chicken, EP had sandwiches and pastas. Still tasted good, but the meals were not in individual bags and unfortunately we "lost" and package of pork chops. They were left in the box by the unpacker and I received credit for them. I felt this service was too expensive for what we got. I would not do this one again, however my son has said he will. His thought process is to get the 3 meals for 2 and make each meal twice a week. He feels that with a $30 grocery run a week this would work for him.

    Finally Misfit Market, this was a nice reasonable plan. I bought about $30 worth of vegetables every 2 weeks and did not go out to the store for them. It did increase the amount of vegetables we were eating.

    During tax season we do not grocery shop very much. Milk, bread, butter, eggs. Other then Misfit Market I do not plan on using these this year.

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    1. My daughter did Misfit Market once, but didn't care for it. She loves veg, but too much of some and too little of what she needed. I'm glad your experience was better.

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  8. Well, my autistic grown kid is extremely picky. He won’t eat pork, seldom will eat chicken, and will eat only certain fish like catfish, which is grown here and is fresh. He basically will only high quality hamburger meat in hamburgers, lasagna, and spaghetti, and steak so I don’t see it working for me at all. I make a huge “soup” of greens and tomatoes generally during the work week for me when I am away from him, or tomato sandwiches during the summer, and make a sandwich from the house for lunch of simple luncheon meat and cheese or a pbj sandwich so I don’t see how I can get any more simple than that. Cindy in the South

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    1. It doesn't seem a fit for you at all. I was reminded how well my son eats. He loaded up with veg and protein. Didn't eat chips, cookies etc. He'd need much bigger portions so the kits would not work.

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  9. we use meal kits as it saves time and waste and give us portion control. These factors (for now) tip the scales in their favor against cost and shopping for supplies.

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    1. I love that you made good review for your needs. I'm not against them, just not a fit. But, I can see my daughter benefiting.

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  10. I have considered ordering- my reasons were to try some new food/recipes since I seem to cook the same things over and over even though I must have 50 cookbooks and reams of printed out recipes! In fact I see one in my printer now. It seems to be a hobby these days lol. I’m sure you had a great visit with your son- I’ll be seeing mine next month but I’m the one who has to travel. Here’s to a good week for both of us. Nan

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    1. My son, for that reason, gave me a cookbook in Covid. It's a gorgeous top LA restaurants book. I've done one so far. It was a wonderful to ong weekend.

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  11. I cannot imagine eating these meal kits or cooking from one. I like what I like, cannot have some spices, am allergic to many things, and otherwise don't like some things. Cooking the same thing is okay for me. These seem too expensive for me, too.

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    1. You're an experienced cook, with limited options. No, probably best to stick to your tried and true meals.

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