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Taco Bell customer buys a $5.99 box and can’t believe what she got

By 2023, Taco Bell will serve two billion customers, yet most of us still don’t know how to get the best bang for our buck at the fast food chain. Rebecca Sowden, a self-described “recovering superspender,” has amassed 75,200 followers with her budgeting and personal finance content. In one of her latest videos, she releases a PSA “for girls who want fast food but have little money.”

“I just hate feeding myself and fast food is very expensive right now,” she said. That, she explained, is why Taco Bell’s $5.99 meal deal piqued her interest. As she explained, the $5.99 Veggies Build-Your-Own Cravings box includes a specialty item, a classic item, a side dish and a medium drink.

“The only thing I don’t like about this is that I like the plain tacos. I like the normal ones,” she said. “The classic, everyday, very predictable tacos. And they let you choose a special item.

On top of the Cravings box, Sowden explains that she was given two regular items in case she doesn’t like the special item she chose (the Chalupa).

“So my total came to $10 and cents, but I think that’s so reasonable for fast food right now,” she said. “Am I crazy?”

As it stands, the Taco Bell Cravings Value Menu rolled out in January 2024. The Cravings Value Menu features ten of Taco Bell’s most popular full-size menu items available for $3 or less. While items on the Cravings Value menu are available in person or at the drive-thru, customers can only purchase the Build-Your-Own Cravings box online or through the Taco Bell app.

@rebecca.sowden For an adult meal, incredibly priced imo #tacobell #fastfood #budget #onabudget #budgetfood @tacobell ♬ original sound – Rebecca Sowden

In a statement to Nation’s Restaurant News, a Taco Bell spokesperson said, “Value has always been the cornerstone of what we offer at Taco Bell, but we knew we wanted to take it to the next level this new year. As our consumers look for more ways to save, we want to expand our value offerings through new menu items and digital offerings that deliver quality and abundance. We’re introducing brand new ways to save to our menu and doubling down with exclusive digital offers, so expect more from us this year. We walk our talk when it comes to value and we’re just getting started.”

This isn’t the first time Sowden has attracted attention for her personal finance videos. She previously went viral after reviewing her 2023 Honda HR-V on TikTok. “Overall very satisfied with my purchase. I feel like this car suits me. It fits my needs, it fits my lifestyle and it is within my budget,” she said.

The Daily Dot contacted Sowden via email.

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*First published: April 21, 2024, 12:00 PM CDT

Charlotte Colombo

Charlotte is a regular contributor to Daily Dot with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent and more. She holds a master’s degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London.

Charlotte Colombo