What if you can get a hamburger, a drink, and some fries for only $1? That was once possible in the 1950s when McDonald’s opened its first stores. Presently, the fast-food chain has grown so large that it’s more of a real estate conglomerate now.
As the saying goes, nobody can evade taxes or death, but there’s actually a third element — inflation. The quiet yet all-present force has raised the cost of living everywhere, including the price of a Big Mac. Gone are the days of the 25-cent shake or 20-cent apple pie… or is it?
There is a way to get a 25-cent cheeseburger and other popular menu items at even better prices. Want to find out? Keep reading on!
What is McDonald’s 25-cent Cheeseburger?
McDonald’s 25-cent cheeseburger was part of the “Throwback Thursday” promotion, which allowed customers to purchase classic menu items at retro prices. The deal ran from January 21 to February 18 2021 and is yet to be repeated this year.
History of the 25-cent cheeseburger
When the McDonald brothers opened their first stand in the 1940s, they sold hamburgers and cheeseburgers for only 15 cents and 19 cents respectively.
It was an instant hit among household consumers and investors, and by 1958 the Golden Arches had sold over 100 million hamburgers according to Business Insider.
Over time, inflation and rising operating costs forced the fast-food chain (and every other restaurant) to increase its menu prices. For reference, a regular cheeseburger costs $1.20 on UberEats.
Naturally, people became disgruntled, and the “Throwback Thursday” deal was introduced to allow customers to pay for menu favorites as though it was the 1940s. However, the promotion ran for only 4 weeks in 2021. and has not returned ever since.
What is McDonald’s Throwback Thursday Promotion?
From January 21 to February 18 last year, customers of the fast-food chain could upsize their meal with an additional small shake, apple pie, large fries, or cheeseburger from only 20 cents. The catch is that they had to download the McDonald’s mobile app and spend at least $1 in-app, which is still a pretty good deal.
How To Get McDonald’s 25-Cent Cheeseburger
The only way to buy McDonald’s cheeseburgers for 25 cents is to wait for another promotion to come around or invent a time machine. You can’t get the 25-cent cheeseburger off the regular menu because it was part of the 4-week “Throwback Thursday” campaign.
The promotion appears to be a one-off deal, and it doesn’t seem to be coming back.
Moreover, the giant restaurant chain is known for creating artificial scarcity by making certain items limited edition, so we shouldn’t expect to see another “throwback” promotion anytime soon.
That said, there are still ways to get McDonald’s cheeseburgers and other food items for cheap prices.
Other McDonald’s Promotions that Happen Regularly
The fast-food chain has always been known for selling delicious, quick meals for good value. One such way is through promotions, and they are really generous with them. In fact, McDonald’s has a promotion every month!
At the moment, customers who spend a minimum of $1 on Mobile Order & Pay purchases can get free medium fries, provided they ordered on a Friday. During National Cheeseburger Day in September last year, you could even get a Double Cheeseburger for just $0.50, and no, it is not a typo.
McDonald’s has a promotion every month, and more so during holiday seasons such as Christmas or Easter. If you don’t want to miss out on future promotions, stay in the loop by downloading their mobile app or visiting their deals page.
More Cheap Deals by Other Fast-Food Restaurants
Fast food is an extremely competitive industry, with hundreds of different brands fighting tooth and nail for an inch of market share. It’s not uncommon to see a Burger King, Taco bell, or Chick-Fil-A next to a McDonald’s outlet.
In order to snatch away customers, some resorted to crafty tactics such as Burger King’s 1-cent burger promotion if people are within 600-feet of a McDonald’s.
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Conclusion…
The 25-cent cheeseburger is a relic from the past that returns occasionally through promotions such as the Throwback Thursday. However, these deals are rare in of itself, and the last known one was in January-February 2021.
Nobody knows for sure when McDonald’s will drop the much-beloved discount, but there are plenty of ongoing deals that will definitely lure you if you’re a cost-conscious consumer.
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