The Hamburger Index

The Hamburger Index: How the Homemade Burger on Vacation Stacks Up Against Room Service Going on vacation can be expensive, especially when you factor in the cost of eating out every day. Renting a vacation home, instead of a hotel, allows you to cook at home and save money due to more amenities Such as a gas stove and a full-size refrigerator. Did you know...? $1.7 billion $325.45 $27.67 Amount spent at restaurants each day* Average amount spent on food while on vacation Average Cost to Feed a Family of 4 per day** *According to the National Restaurant Association *"According to the USDA's Low Cost, Moderate Cost, and Liberal Food Plans All amounts are per pound, unless otherwise noted. Room Service Hotel Burger* BURGER Home Cooked Burger on Vacation *Prices taken from sample menus for Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, and Wyndham Resort hotels. High-end hotels in major cities will likely have higher prices. Burger Buns: $1.60/ package Red Onions: $0.96 HAMBURGER PRICE W/FRIES Average: $15.35 Iceberg Lettuce: Average for a Family of Four: $0.92 $61.40 And this is just the cost of the burgers alone! So what about additional fees and items? American Cheese: $4.08 DELIVERY CHARGE Average: $3.25 Tomato: $1.47 SERVICE CHARGE/ GRATUITY 2 lb of Ground Beef: $6.80/lb Average: $12.93 Mustard: $1.28/8 oz. Ketchup: Tip Amount for Four burger meals plus Delivery Charge: $1.39/24 oz. 20% Frozen Fries: $2.76 MEAL TOTAL: Average: MEAL TOTAL: Average: $5.30/person $19.39/ person Average for a Family of Four: Average for a Family of Four: $21.20 $77.56 MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Sodas (12oz): $4 12 pack Sodas (12oz) Average: 1 liter bottle: $4 $1 Beer: $5-8 Domestic six pack Beer (Pint) Average: Import six pack: $6.16 $8-12 Wine: $7-20 Wine (Glass) Average cost of a bottle of Average: $6.88 wine Other Benefits of Eating at Your Vacation Home Tips to Save Money When Cooking At Your Vacation Home -You know exactly what you're eating (no hidden fats, salt, or food allergies) -More time spent with just the family, as well as the opportunity to teach your children how to cook and develop healthy eating habits -Eat like a local: Try regional and seasonal items sold at farmer's markets or specialty stores, which are often cheaper and fresher than store-bought produce -Before you go out, you can use sites such as Groupon or LivingSocial to find deals for local items in your area -Less stressful for the kids and parents alike, especially younger children, who can eat at their own pace SOURCES http://www.bls.gev/ro/apmw.htm When factoring in the cost of food, vacations can get expensive. Room service is convenient, but marked up prices, tipping, delivery fees, and the dreaded hotel mini-bar can all cause http://www.iefarmbureau.org/NewsReleaselomepage aspid9060 http://www.motherfones.com/tom philpot/2011/10'coeking really cheaper junk food mark bittman http://www.dailyfiaance.com/2010 09 08top-s-food-mark aps-where-restaurants-make-huge profitu http:/fuelgaugereportA.com/tredirectto-httpo/fuelgaugereport.ogpisnet.com/index.asp http://nrm.com/beverage-trendsalcohol-prices rise restaurants-bars http://www.huffingtonpost.com/drmark-hymanfamily dinner how b 806114.html http://www.prweb.comvreleases/eating out-eatinghome-saving-money/prweb10641474.htm hetp:/diettogo.com/bloghealthy-eating-cooking-at-home-vs-eating out hetp://www.gobankingrates.com/savings-account/eating-home-v-eating out-which-cheaper http://nrn.com/latest-headlines/researchrestaurant-customers-traded-down-2012 http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/0yearselpeicechange.html http://www.apl.comHealth News/2011/09/15 Americans eat-out about-5-times-a-meek/UPI-54241316490172/ http://www.sestaurantLorg/Dewnloads/PDF/News-ResearchFactbook2013 Lettersiee.pdf http://blog.priceonomics.com/pesti46618070248the price-of-wine http://beerfindthebest.com/g/48/2713How-mudh-does-Bud-Light-beer-cest http://www.deseretnews.com/artide/86556017/American tamiles spending-les-on-geoceries-eating-out.htmilpgall http://www.armc.rochester.edu/encydopedia/content.aspCententlypelD-18ContentiD2094 http://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/content/SFOFHKH/mediapdt'en SFOFHHN SAMPLE ROOM SERVICE MENU.paf hetp:/www.marriott.com/hetelwebsites/an/oycplnycpl pat/Room20service200n-Lineti20Mena pdf http://www.hyatt.com/byattimages/hetelu'cmbre/cemhracomservice.pdf http://www.wyndham.com/us-en/property/MCOGR/POFNEW-RS-Mena-June-2012.pdf hetp://www.thedrakehotel.com/userfiles/tle Room205ervice2OMeu207-2013.pdf http://nasba.org http://www.gallup.com/poll/155416/Americans-Spend-151-Week Feod High-Income 180.nga unnecessary damage to your vacation budget. As such, a vacation home allows you the opportunity to take advantage of the many cost-saving amenities not available in a standard hotel. O HomeAway let's stay together org/features/are you spending-too madh-on vacatio MENU