How this eating-out calculator works
The math is simple on purpose. We multiply the number of meals you eat out each week by your average spend per meal, then by 52 weeks to get a yearly total. Your monthly figure is that yearly number divided by 12, which smooths out the fact that some months have four weeks and some have five.
The savings figures show what you'd keep in a year if you trimmed your eating-out spending by a quarter or by half. You don't have to cut meals to get there: ordering one fewer drink, skipping delivery fees by picking up, or swapping a weeknight dinner for a lunch special all move you in the same direction.
Getting an honest average
Most people underestimate their average because they remember the menu price, not the final charge. Delivery service fees, small-order fees, taxes and tips can add 30–50% to a meal. For the most accurate number, look at your last month of card statements, add up every restaurant and delivery charge, and divide by the number of transactions.
What to do with the result
Seeing a yearly number like $4,000 or $6,000 is often the wake-up call. The next step is turning that big number into a small daily one you can actually follow. Divide the monthly amount you'd like to spend by 30 and you have a daily eating-out budget — a number that's easy to check before you order.
That's exactly what Truffle does: it tracks your real restaurant and delivery transactions automatically and gives you a calm daily check-in against your number, so you can keep eating out — just on purpose.