No other change that we have made in our life has saved us so much money as this! Eating out used to be a regular thing for us; McDonald drive through for lunch, pizza for a quick dinner, take-out for those crazy busy weeknights, the list goes on. It was never special, just quick and desperate solutions to poor planning and, need I add, expensive!
We were sitting at an all-you-can-eat buffet with our 4 children one busy weekend discussing how we sorely needed another dresser. My husband quickly responded; "We can't afford it!" Then we payed the $65 bill and went home. It struck me at that moment how ridiculous it was to continue to eat out for convenience sake all the time.
What changes have we made? I plan ahead! We make sure to finish our extra activities early so we are home when it's mealtime. Crockpots are a fabulous way to have supper ready when you return. If things are just too busy and you didn't prepare ahead, it is a great idea to have quick and easy things in the freezer already; frozen pizza, frozen burritos, etc. Then you aren't forced to go to the drive through or order out.
We have saved hundreds every month by doing this. We still eat out at least once a month, but we plan it, and we all enjoy it so much more! And, as I thought we would, we now have a bit of money left for those other necessities like new winter coats, etc. Try it for a month, you won't be disappointed! :)
Saving money while eating out at restaurants. Here are tips suggested by the ThriftyFun community. Cooking at home saves money, but when you do eat out, order water instead of a beverage to help keep your check low.
Tips for saving money while eating out at restaurants. If you have a great idea that was missed, post it here!
I am learning that restaurant-bill discrepancies are not uncommon, but they are rarely caught. Many patrons now pay with debit or credit cards. The check arrives at the table, and they give it a cursory glance at best.
What are your best tips around saving on dining out? What are the best discount programs, happy hour deals? I spend over $5000 last year to dine out and want to cut back.
By JohnC from Portland, OR
Hey John, Portland is my home town and I'm currently in exile in Colorado and my dear brother is also named John. That aside, the best way to save money on eating out, is eat at home. Sorry.
But, many restaurants are offering deals right now if you eat with someone,like 2-fers or try eating out for lunch instead of dinner. This will often get you the same food, possibly in a smaller portion but for less money [most of us could do with smaller portions]. Making lunch your heaviest meal also tends to help control weight, and you can have a salad, some french bread and a small glass of wine or juice at home later in the evening.
Coupon books aren't really worth much in my opinion.
Having a few favorite restaurants where you really learn the ins and outs of the menu's is a help. Ask what days are the best specials from more than one waiter/waitress and you will get all the details of the place eventually, and figure out which way to combine what you like for the lowest bottom line.
All restaurant chains prompt their employees to up sell. I hated it when I worked in a restaurant. Say no as much as possible, drink water as your main beverage and save the coffee, juice, wine, etc for home, unless they sell your real favorite. Specify which category and size you want. I hadn't eaten a restaurant for a long time and stopped in recently, and forgot that little rule and ended up with the largest glass of milk they had, even though I'd only asked for a glass of milk. I've learned the hard way that I often am full before finishing the full size of anything, when the smaller size would have sufficed.
Try to have some of your favorite things at home waiting for you so you aren't tempted to buy them at the restaurant. Eat small and treat yourself to late night snack at home.
I agree about coupon books. For the price there is a lot in them that a person won't use. The last two years the management company that has the apartment complex I live in has done a discount card for about 18 asstd.
Eat at home. I'd rather fix a peanut butter sandwich than pay the high price to eat out, or fix a Slim Fast milk shake. We drink those to help with weight problems. Good luck.
I agree with not ordering beverages when eating out in restaurants. I am fine with a glass of water. I also skip appetizers if I'm ordering a main course. I am often so full from the appetizer I can't eat the entree. Is it your routine to end the meal with coffee? You might just be ordering out of habit. Do without it and see if you can eliminate it or have some when you get home.
We don't like to eat too late at night so we look for early bird specials.
If there are two of you eating out, order one entree to share and an extra salad. Share a dessert that's usually more than enough for two people.
Look for coupons on line and in newspapers. Ask about specials of the day or order an appetizer for your msin dish.
With rising food costs, every bit of savings when it comes to eating out is a win. A great tip for shaving off a few dollars on your next meal in (or out) is combining the savings from purchasing a discounted gift card from one of the gift card reseller sites and bundling the savings from that with a promo code/coupon. To avoid having to hunt for an active code, take advantage of browser extensions such as Honey which you'll need to download or the built in version on the Microsoft Edge browser. Using a discounted gift card with a promo code is a great way to save, especially if you have large orders.
You can still have a nice time dining out but without breaking the bank. Go during Happy Hour where you can get half off appetizers, drinks and some select entrees!
If you or your kids love nuts on your sundaes from Dairy Queen or other drive-up ice cream places, bring a baggie of nuts from home. The ice cream shops usually charge 50 cents or more for nuts and a family of 4 could save $2.00 on one visit.
Since we live in a rural area about 15 miles from the town we go to shop, we combine our trips for medical needs, appointments, etc. with our shopping. Often it means we are there at mealtime...
This is a page about saving money on fast food. The cost of fast food can add up, but there are a few simple ways to save money when eating at fast food restaurants.
