I’m surprised you were able to feed 2 people lunch for only $15.
If I go grab Jimmy John’s for lunch, a sandwich, bag of chips, and a soda is over $18.
And gas is $5.25 to $5.50.
For that amount of money, I would just stay hungry until I get home from work. There is no chance on Earth that I would pay close to $20 for a lackluster sandwich, chips, and drink.
What 3 institutions have increased costs far beyond inflation?
Universities
Health care
Housing
What do they all have in common?
Government intervention to make them more affordable.
I always brown bag it
As you said, I’m not paying $15 - $20 for a sandwich, fries and a soda
Plus my meals are healthier
And we only get 1/2-hr for lunch
Not worth it to spend most of that time going to/from a burger joint
To be fair, you are in one of the highest cost of living states, but your average income is also in the top 10 states…
Y’alls average income is about $32,500 higher than ours here in TN…
… and yet, tuition at the state university in his state is almost exactly the same as in your state (~$13k per annum). You might want to speak with your state legislators about the inordinately heavy financial load that they are placing on students from their own state.
In my “working in the shop” days I would pack a lunch and eat it on the go whenever I had the chance. Now, I still do the same, but have an occasional day with an open schedule and treat myself to something different. Then I think, heck, was that worth $20?
I suppose it’s the same as it’s always been. Back in the 80’s when I was a HS kid with a minimum wage job, an hour of work would buy a Big Mac meal. Today an hour of minimum wage work buys a Jimmy Johns meal with a few bucks left over.
With that knowledge does it seem right that a car dealer in WA should add 25% market adjustment to the sticker price of a new car? I mean that Camry has the same Monroney sticker on it in TN as it has in WA. If income here is 30% higher than in TN, should WA residents pay more for the car, or should TN residents pay less? 
Sadly, fairly normal across the country. But still, state schools are THE way to get a good education for less. Even better is community college for 2 years with a direct transfer to the state school.
I went to a private college in Ohio with tuition costs running about $3000 a year to start and about $6000 a year 4 years later. I had a scholarship covering $1500 per year for 4 years. 1/2 tuition in the first year and 1/4 by year 4 because inflation was very high through those 4 years. I was a co-op student (paid intern) for years 2 through 4 which helped my cover my school bills especially because I was getting raises. That school now costs $51,900 a year just for tuition. If it just followed inflation, that cost would only be $15,500 a year.
In Florida, we have some very affordable 4 year state schools for in-state tuition, The average is $4939 a year for a 4 year school. If you live on campus room and board raises that to about $18K to $20K a year. Minimum wage here is $15/hr so about 30 hours a week would cover the tuition. Tipped jobs can earn a lot higher than $15/hr and there are lots of those. Community college is $3280 a year.
Kinda like the tail wagging the dog but i think the cost has more to do with available loans than actual cost of theb product. Shrink the loans and the fat and worthless majors will be trimmed. Didnt have any generous loans in my day so it was the bank with deferred interest. Thats why immediately after graduation, army pay was $80 but loan payments were $60. Dont know what the payment would be on $100 k.
Yesterday the wifey was wanting a cheeseburger for lunch, kind of a rare thing for her…
Anyway we both got the Dave’s single meals (cheapest burger meal on the menu), she got the small and I got the medium, our total w/tax was $18.42…
I googled what Jimmy Johns would cost here in TN, here is what Mr Google (AI mode) said:
In Tennessee, a standard Jimmy John’s lunch combo (an 8" sandwich, a bag of chips, and a regular fountain drink) will typically cost you between $15.91 and $18.10 w/tax, depending on your specific location and your choice of sandwich. (pick up, not delivered)
I think Subs are just high no matter where you buy them… Never paid for a Jimmy John’s (eating a few that work bought), but we don’t eat Subway unless we have some kinda coupon or deal on them… 
BTW our gas for Mapco, Exxon, Kroger and Shell has been hovering around the $3.80 to $3.85 a gallon mark for 87 octane here lately…
Universities - What specific government intervention has increased cost? Many don’t agree with your assessment - College ‘sticker prices’ have risen dramatically. Here’s why : NPR
Health Care - WRONG. Biggest increase in health care is PROFIT. Profit from insurance companies is up 315% in the past 20 years.
Health Care Company Payouts Favor Shareholders, New Research Shows | Yale School of Medicine
Housing - Here in the Boston area and many other parts of the country rising housing prices are a direct result of investors buying up homes. Last I read in Boston area (which includes southern NH) over 30% of all homes go to investors. Investors buy homes to decrease the supply. When you decrease the supply then prices will rise. There are many other factors, but none I saw have anything to do with Government intervention.
Why Are Houses So Expensive? | Factors Affecting Housing Prices - Steers Global Real Assets
Consider yourself lucky. In Michigan, the average price for 87 octane is now $4.83. In my state, it’s now $4.18.
This administration and friends are making BILLIONS off of higher gas prices.
Tesla demand for their new Tesla Semi has surged due to higher diesel prices. There are a whole lot of people (mainly billionaires) who do NOT want to see lower gas and diesel prices.
No fooling. My Medicare Advantage plan was cancelled going forward. I looked into Medicare with Medigap and the cheapest Medigap policy is $25/mo more than the replacement Advantage plan my old insurer offers. $165/mo more than 2026 and less services. If I get an HMO I lose my doctors. I guess someone needs a new business jet.
I was worried about potential changes in my Medicare Advantage plan, especially because the provider–Aetna–has announced that they are leaving the marketplace in a few states. I just reviewed their Notice of Change for 2027, and–thank G o d–the co-pays will remain the same. And, all of my current doctors will still be in-network.
However, there was no information regarding the monthly fees, so I guess that I will have to wait a few months for that shoe to drop.
Just last week we were going through some old work documents when I used to work for Digital Equipment. The health benefits were substantially better and cheaper than they are today. Almost double the cost and no where near the coverage.
I stopped by Culvers last night and got two burgers, fries, and two sundaes for $24. When i got home i found out they gave me doubles instad of singles. Not first time so i always say singles. Not doubles.
We sound like a bunch of old men sitting around complaining about the weather. In high school my business teacher used to come in and exclaim isnt it great to be alive? Dont know, never been dead yet. Cheers.
Here in NC I think we might have the cheapest gas in the country. My local 7/11 has regular for 3.39/gal.