How We Ate Lunch for $10 (And Honestly Could’ve Made It 3 Meals)
We didn’t plan on eating out today. Truth is, we barely planned the day at all. But in my home that is what happens more times than not. Is that what happens in your home as well? I should ask Charlie is that is what happens in his home.
By the time we were driving to Lowe’s to pick up supplies for David’s company it was raining and my knee was hurting. I sat in the car and used my tablet to do some work. So, I would be able to go into Walmart, and with my knee was hurting bad enough that I had to stop and take some Advil. I was to the point I would use one of the scooters.
Before we went into Walmart, David noticed how bad I was limping and favoring the one leg because had walked closer to a hour without taking a break. David and I knew it was time to sit down for a minute. While David went to the restroom I stood by the door watching the signs for Charlie’s Philly Steaks.
Before going into Walmart so I could sit and rest about we went into Charlie’s Cheesesteaks to get a drink. As I looked at the menu, for their Kids Menu I kept it simple—and ordered a small order of bacon cheese fries.
But Charlie’s Cheesesteaks isn’t new to David or I. Charlie actually used to only eat it at the one in Parks Mall, because that’s where he tried a Philly steak sandwich for the very first time. Back then, it was lamb, and I wasn’t about to try it. Not even a bite.
Now he’ll grab a Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich at Grapevine Mills, and they’re even popping up in Walmart stores—we eat at the Rufe Snow location today. Funny how something that started as “his thing” turned into something we all stop for now and then.
Philly Cheese Sandwiches come with onions and peppers, but both David and Charlie leave those off. Me? I do not do Philly Cheese Sandwiches ever but I was just missing out completely because I didn’t even realize half of what they had.
I didn’t know they had milkshakes—and they look amazing. I didn’t know they had loaded fries either. Or meals inexpensive enough I can take my friends and family to and treat them to a meal or just stop by for an Ice Cream Cone which is a $1 and something David would love.
And now here I am… eating there more than both of them do, because those bacon cheese fries are cheaper than a Happy Meal, and the drinks come with free refills. That means I can grab a drink while we’re in Walmart shopping and refill it before we leave so I’ve got something for the ride home too.
That matters more than people think when you’re watching every dollar. David and I shared our food, and I only ate about half of mine. I could have brought the rest home, but I gave it to him instead. If I hadn’t done that, we easily could have turned that into three meals.
That’s the kind of thinking we live in right now. It’s not about going without—it’s about stretching what you have and still enjoying the moment you’re in. We sat there, took a break, and for a few minutes, it felt like a date in the middle of errands and a long to-do list.
And that counts. Because sometimes eating out isn’t about spending money… It’s about making it work. It’s also taking the time to make a quick phone call to Charlie to check on him. The restaurant was so clean, and the staff was so nice I could have stayed a while and worked here with no distractions.
And yes—we really do need to sign up for their app and see what kind of specials we’ve been missing. But we need to share the App with my sister as well and when we go walking at Walmart, we could stop for a small snack for girl’s time. Would you like to come join us on our walk?
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
