Caroline Bauldree, a 24-year-old nanny from Raleigh, North Carolina, represents a growing group of young adults who rely heavily on food delivery services despite experiencing feelings of guilt about their spending habits. Bauldree, who developed a near-daily DoorDash routine during college, estimates she spends about $75 a week on restaurant deliveries. While she enjoys the convenience and variety, she often wrestles with what she describes as “delivery guilt,” feeling lazy and wasteful after placing orders.
The rise in food delivery usage, popularized by apps such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub, has become a notable trend across the United States. According to a Purdue University study, approximately two-thirds of consumers have used food-ordering apps at least once in 2024. A survey by FinanceBuzz, in collaboration with Bank of America, found that 57% of Americans order takeout or delivery at least weekly, with Generation Z averaging five orders per month—about twice as many as the Baby Boomer generation.
Despite its popularity, food delivery is an expensive habit due to delivery fees and higher menu prices. Many users, particularly younger consumers, report feeling embarrassed about how much they spend. The FinanceBuzz survey showed that half of Generation Z respondents admitted they sometimes conceal the true cost of their orders from friends and family. Joy Lu, an assistant professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon University, describes food delivery as an “affordable luxury” that allows consumers to indulge without large splurges. However, Lu warns that added fees produce “sticker shock” at checkout and that some users hesitate to discuss their spending because they recognize a portion benefits the delivery companies rather than the workers.
Legal and regulatory scrutiny has increased around these platforms. Last month, New York City imposed a $13.5 million fine on DoorDash for violations of local delivery worker laws, including late payments and minimum wage infractions. This settlement, the largest of its kind in New York history, will distribute $15 million to DoorDash drivers. The company acknowledged errors in payment processing, describing them as unintentional.
Rising grocery prices also complicate consumer choices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts a 2.4% increase in grocery costs this year, which some individuals say makes cooking at home nearly as expensive as ordering food. Experts note, however, that these claims depend on personal circumstances such as household size and geographic location.
Some consumers, like New York influencer Audrey Peters, openly share their heavy use of food delivery despite public criticism. Peters recently disclosed spending over $130 on a single day’s orders, including a $19.44 Starbucks latte with tip, sparking debate online. She later acknowledged her openness was partly intended to provoke reactions from viewers.
Public conversation about food delivery spending occasionally draws criticism, with some commentators blaming it for preventing younger generations from achieving financial goals. However, economists dispute these claims. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates Americans still spend a larger portion of their food budget on groceries than on dining out or delivery, suggesting a broader shift back toward home cooking.
Bauldree says she is trying to reduce her reliance on delivery due to increasing living expenses like rent and insurance. Lu, who studies delivery app pricing, avoids installing the apps herself, calling them “dangerous” temptations. As these platforms continue to embed themselves in daily life, consumers grapple with balancing convenience, cost, and personal finance.