Everyone in Canada has bemoaned the rising cost of fast food. What used to exist on a dollar menu has nearly tripled, and the cost to combo up or even add cheese to your burger has risen exponentially.
Fortunately, we have six helpful tips to save money on fast food, including looking out for coupons, getting creative with the menu, and checking your apps for the best discounts.
Here's our guide to navigating the fast food landscape in the age of inflation.
Key Takeaways
- Fast food has increased in price mostly due to inflation, supply chain problems, labour costs, and more.
- You can save money on fast food by downloading restaurant apps, using coupons, and looking for alternatives to burgers and fries.
- Having the right credit card can also give you a few percent back.
Why are fast food prices high?
Fast food prices are rising in Canada due to inflation in general, supply chain disruption, and several other factors, such as labour shortages. The cost of nearly all of the goods continues to rise – not only the price of the ingredients to make the food, but other aspects of the fast food experience like wrappers and to-go bags as well.
Just talking to my mother the other day, she remarked how a hamburger at McDonalds used to cost $0.19 each. Now, a single burger costs $2.69.
But even if we're not comparing the price differences from the era of disco, we can even look to the recent past. My go-to student meal was a Junior Chicken and a McDouble. Both were on the $1.39 Value Picks menu 10 years ago, meaning that for just $2.78, you'd be more than full and easily surpass your cholesterol quota for the day.
Today, the charge for the same succulent Golden Arches meal is $6.68 ($3.39 for the McDouble and $3.29 for the Junior Chicken). This represents an increase of 140%.
Tips for saving money on fast food
If you ever cave to the cravings or convenience of fast food, here are some tips that can save you money.
Keep an eye out for coupons and promo days
Having a few fast food apps on your phone and keeping tabs on any mailer coupons is a surefire way to snag some savings. Check the offers tab on your app to see which items are discounted. Sometimes, there are seasonal promos, such as St. Patrick's Day deals or a sports promo if the Toronto Raptors are playing.
You should also check your receipts once you've bought your meal for any surveys to fill out. This could lead to a free upsize or a discounted burger next time you visit.
Lastly, if there are certain days that have discounts or promos, those would be the days to head in. I remember rotating between:
- Toonie Tuesday at KFC
- Whopper Wednesday at Burger King
- Discount slices at Freshslice Pizza on Tuesdays
- Domino's, which used to have discounts on specific days in the week
Get creative with your order
Taking the example I had with my two $1.39 value items, you find yourself full for a lot less money if you can work the menu the right way. Ordering two smaller sandwiches will usually be a better value than comboing up with fries and a drink. You'd also be healthier if you just skipped the soda and got an ice water instead.
Getting a McDouble, for instance, is basically a Big Mac with one less piece of bread and different sauce. You could get 2 McDoubles and be more full than the classic sandwich, all while hardly paying any more.
You can also check if adding extras, like veggies, will cost any more. I remember really pushing this growing up when I ate at Subway.
Keep an eye on location
If a fast food restaurant is located near a major artery, or in a touristy or remote area, it may cost more than one in a suburban area. Because fast food restaurants are franchised, prices vary from location to location.
Franchisees know that if they're located right off the highway, they'll catch hungry motorists. Conversely, restaurants in rural areas will often be more expensive because of the cost to deliver ingredients or supplies.
Have the right credit card
If you do go out for fast food often, having a good credit card for restaurants can help claw back a little bit at a time. Look for credit cards with high earn rates on restaurants like the American Express Cobalt™ Card.
Simply put, the Amex Cobalt is the best credit card in Canada. You’ll get the highest earn rates on both your grocery and restaurant spending that you can get, plus some of the best rates of return if you can maximize your points value.
Bring the food home and save on things like drinks and sides
If you don't care about eating healthy and want to save money, buying a large 2 litre pop from the grocery store is going to be way cheaper than ordering a couple of sodas from the fast food fountain.
You can also use your air fryer to make your own fries or get a big bucket of coleslaw or macaroni salad and get more bang for your buck.
As a note, when we say bring the food home, we mean pick it up yourself. Delivery can get very expensive as the apps you use charge fees on top of the prices charged by the restaurants. You'll also need to tip your driver. By picking it up on your own, you'll save a ton of money.
Skip the burger and fries
There are other quick eats in food courts like Chinese food, shawarmas, and probably your best option: the grocery store. Ready-to-eat or easy-prep meals can be a much better value than a pathetic-looking burger that fast food joints are churning out.
Plus, cooking at home can be much healthier. If you're concerned about your time, meal prepping in advance is healthier, cheaper, and not particularly disruptive, especially if you make it a routine.
Have you noticed fast food inflation?
Let me be the first to say that I've turned into my mother – if I'm hungry while I'm out, I'll always convince myself that there's food at home since fast food prices have become insane compared to what I was used to paying when I was younger.
But what are your thoughts? Have you noticed that you're going out for food less often than before? Are the increasing prices turning you away? Or are you getting creative with your orders to save some cash when you do find yourself at a fast food joint?
We're excited to hear your thoughts, tips, and tricks in the comments!
FAQ
Why are fast food prices going up?
Fast food prices are going up due to the rising cost of goods overall along with other factors such as supply chain issues and labour costs. Outside of things like meat, bread, and other ingredients, other expenses like packaging and utensils are going up as well. Restaurants hike their prices as a result.
Do fast food prices vary from location?
Yes, as many fast food restaurants are franchised, prices can vary significantly between stores. Stores in busy markets tend to have higher prices, as do very remote locations where getting supplies delivered is difficult.
Will fast food prices go down?
It's unlikely even as inflation starts to come down. As prices have increased, people have also shown a willingness to continue paying for fast food, so restaurants have little incentive to lower the prices so long as consumers continue to buy.
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