@MTAB
I started working in my father’s store after school at the age of 8. My elder sons also working in grandpa’s stores. The younger sons worked in my office as did my daughters. They earned their dating money (yes, I owned the cars they drove, but they paid the gas and tolls).
I don’t consider the cost of a good meal as throwing money away.
I made sure my children were educated to earn a good living, as did my parents and grandparents for their children. Tuition is a struggle.
I have many of the finer things in life, but I earned them. I don’t throw money away. We vacation in our own home and have the entire family here for Yuntif. The amenities such as the pool, etc are well used and cheaper in the long run than vacations, hotels, sleep a way camp, etc.
My two youngest daughters were married here in the compound. Caterer, yes, large catering hall bills, no.
.I cut my own grass and in my mid 60s shovel my own snow (or use the snow blower if need be).
We don’t ‘buy’ Shabbos or other meals as takeout. We cook from scratch.
We have 17 rooms in the main house and a cleaning lady once a week to do floors and bathrooms and kitchens. We all clean up after ourselves, and do our own laundry. My shirts don’t get sent out, they get ironed at home.
It’s all about choices.
When I want to hire a new junior attorney, at least one interview takes place in a restaurant. I want to see how they handle themselves in that type of a situation and observe their table manners. Dates are also interviews, and the same reasons to dine out apply.