Save Money Eating Out
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Skip the Beverages When Eating at a Restaurant
Cooking at home saves money, but when you do eat out, order water instead of a beverage to help keep your check low.By Cynthia
Read The Coupon Fine Print
Be careful with too good to be true deals! While I am positive that there are some great deals out there, avoid the minimum purchase required ones! Think about it. You must order at least $35 worth of food/drink, in order to get your $25 coupon (that you got for just $10). A savings of $10 right? WRONG, if it cost you $10 to get the certificate, you didn't save a single dime! Like I said, I am sure that there are many great deals to be had, just be sure to do your homework and make sure it is a deal. Enjoy.By Mkneib86
Order Appetizers Or Lunch Portions Instead
I have started ordering appetizers for the main course. Or asking for a lunch portion. Lately portions have just gotten too big and I end up paying for food I don't really want.By Mojjo
Eat Early To Use The Lunch Menu
Instead of eating dinner out, we eat a late lunch. The dinner menu is always more expensive, even if it is the same menu as the lunch menu.Plan On Leftovers
Make a point of just eating half of what is on the plate and take the rest home as leftovers for another meal. It's nice to do the split off before you eat off the plate! Something else I'd like to point out is that one should order foods which aren't normally prepared at home.And finally, make a mental note of outstanding combos on the menu and then serve them at home. I get take out menus (when available) and store them in a folder. When I run out of meal ideas, I occasionally look to these for inspiration.
By Holly
Split Your Entree
My husband and I often split an entree and/or dessert. Most restaurants serve so much food and are happy to give customers an extra plate. We are always careful to tip as if we had spent for two.FYI: I read somewhere that it is better to leave your tip on the table rather than include it in check or credit card, because sometimes it doesn't ever reach the server.
By Vicka
Lemon Water
At restaurants, instead of ordering soft drinks request to have water with lemon for refreshment.By Alyson
Lemonade
Hi everyone, My DH and I also order water often instead of a beverage, but for a nice change from plain water all the time is lemonade: I usually ask for lemon with my water, and there's almost always sugar packets on the table, so I stir in my lemon and sugar and have homemade, natural lemonade at no charge! it's a nice change of pace than just water or lemon water. Thanks for all the tips!By Mia
Kansas City Kids Eat Free Website
If you live in the Kansas City Area, you're in luck. http://kidseatfree.proboards20.com has a really good listing of Kids Eat Free and Kids Eat Cheap restaurants in the Kansas City Metro Area. Even if I did create this list myself. Enjoy!By kidseatfree
Buy an Entertainment book!
Buy an Entertainment book! We bought the smaller version for $20 through a school fundraiser and have saved $143.16 in just 4 months. (That does not even include all the golf coupons I gave away...) The coupons are usually buy one meal get one free, so it is great when there are just two.Another idea is to get to know the sale days at your favorite restaurants. My kids love McDonalds but we only go on those nights when they have $.99 burgers for the big people. There is a lounge in town that serves a steak dinner for $4.99 on Thursdays. Ask around. Check the paper for coupons. I often find them in the weekend edition.
And my last tip, try to have an emergency dinner in the freezer for those horrible nights when you are too tired to cook. (Seems like every night for me.) Hope this helps.
Christine - Spokane, WA
The best way to save money ...
The best way to save money on eating out is not to do it. When there were only two of us I would keep ZipLock sandwich bags filled with spaghetti sauce, chili, shredded beef/BBQ sauce, grated cheese, soup, diced cooked ham or turkey, crumbled cooked bacon, sweet/sour sauce, refried beans, taco meat, etc. I would also keep a bag of meatballs that had been frozen individually. It was easy to thaw something out in the microwave and have soft tacos, chili burritos, soup and salad, meatball subs, and so much more. Bags of salad are inexpensive and handy.Now that there are 7 in our family I keep large ZipLock bags of those same types of things in the freezer for busy days, they are a life and budget saver. Many families will find that the money saved on food, clothes, eating out and auto/travel expenses if a spouse does not work or works only part time will be greater than the income earned. Wiser shopping, home cooking, selling the second car? can save a lot. It also makes for a calmer home environment and allows the primary income earner to concentrate more on their work and not worry about dry cleaning, running to DMV, etc.
JulieBeth
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