Here are 10 glorious tips to help you make the most out of dining out.
When we’re eyeing our budget, spending on entertainment is normally one of the first items that people cut back on. But I was determined to figure out a way to eat out a couple of times a month, just to step out of my usual routine of doing the family cooking for most days of the week. In so doing, I discovered that dining out cheaply was actually more affordable and easier than I thought! Here is a compilation of some of my favorite tips on eating out for less.
How I Save Money When Dining Out
1. Watch the frequency of your visits to restaurants.
I just mentioned that I would love a break from home cooking once in a while. If you make it a habit to eat out often, perhaps several times a week or more, you may wonder why you’re low on coin by the end of the month. Those who enjoy urban living and city life may dwell near restaurant enclaves and eschew the ownership of a car in favor of living in the middle of entertainment and food venues. But the convenience of simply walking to the nearest dining spot may also weigh down your wallet. Just be aware of how much you are indeed spending on this budget category.
2. Have kids? Take advantage of events where children eat for free.
Several major restaurant chains and dining franchises have great offers for families: kids can eat free on certain nights. Look for deals at restaurants such as IHOP and the Ground Round. I also notice that several local restaurants would offer the same deal to compete with the big guys. That gives our family more affordable options.
Recently, we enjoyed a meal at the Ground Round for under $40 with tip — our table was laden with steak, burgers and dessert. Because the kids were in there for free, it was possible to eat out well for less.
3. Use gift cards for points.
I participate in several online points websites. I earn points for all types of online activities including surfing, reading email, shopping and even taking surveys.
Often, restaurant gift cards are offered in exchange for points earned at websites such as Creation Rewards and My Points. I recently took a survey and got three $25 gift cards to Chili’s Bar & Grill. We used one card to go out to lunch while I gave away another two as Christmas gifts to other families who don’t get to eat out often. I know these are gifts they’ll appreciate!
4. Use rewards cards for points as well!
Don’t forget your rewards credit AND debit cards — many of them offer points that are redeemable for restaurant visits or may provide you outright bonuses on sign ups. Usually, additional rewards points are associated with spending at eateries, so you can use your restaurant visit to collect flexible points for additional savings elsewhere. As an example, check out Perkstreet Financial promotions for special “Perkstreet PowerPerks”, which are revolving benefits that often feature eateries.
5. Share a meal.
Does a $3 plate charge put you off from sharing meals? Don’t let it. After all, it’s often the case that the only item you can get at a restaurant for $3 is a beverage or small bowl of soup. If spending $3 saves the cost of a $15 meal (especially when the portions are large), then it’s well worth it!
If you do decide to order individual meals, don’t forsake the doggie bag. In days gone by, people brought the leftovers home for the family pet. But these days, we’re a lot more practical: leftovers can be stretched into another meal.
6. Enjoy a leftover bonanza.
If you’ve got a family with a hearty appetite, then you may rarely share meals. But could it be because we’re so accustomed to having our eyes work the dining table to tell us we’re hungry, rather than letting our tummies do the talking?
Sometimes, we may even order a little extra of our favorite meal to be packed as leftovers. If so, then why not make a family event out of it? I try to be creative. During these situations, I heat everything and serve it all together buffet-style, calling it our “Leftover Bonanza.” My family actually looks forward to these occasions, and it saves me a night of cooking. We even avoid finagling about money! The key is in the presentation.
7. Use the Entertainment Book and be a coupon hound.
Every year we purchase an Entertainment Book (which we spotlight in this article as well). Look for special offers and coupon codes to get the book for up to half price. For a minimal investment, your family gets a great assortment of coupons for restaurants, movie theaters and other entertainment venues.
I first purchased the book 20 years ago as a law office manager. I used the Entertainment card to take clients out to lunch. Now the book has evolved to include family-friendly activities such as museums and amusement parks as well as fast food restaurants and ice cream parlors.
Whether we want a quick burger on the go or wish to plan a day in NYC at the museums, the Entertainment Book makes it possible for us to cover more ground for much less.
I would also suggest that you go beyond the Entertainment Book. Be a coupon hound. Before we go anywhere, I go to the venue’s website to search for coupons. You’ll often find a special page of money-saving coupons for website visitors. We recently scored a free trip to a water park by using a coupon and by going after 4 PM. It cost us less than half the usual price.
Peruse your local publications, too. We recently scored a buy one, get one free ice cream deal to treat the kids after their annual holiday concert.
8. Use restaurant vouchers.
We also take advantage of deals at Restaurant.com. You can purchase a $25 or $50 voucher toward a meal at a local restaurant. The vouchers are half priced or less. Once, I spent only $1.50 for a $25 voucher!
Make sure to call the restaurant before purchasing the voucher. I learned that some restaurants stop participating in the program and might not accept a voucher after some time. This can be pretty frustrating, so don’t sit on your vouchers for too long. Call the restaurant ahead of time to confirm that they still honor Restaurant.com certificates and to determine which days they are good for. Note that restaurants may not allow you to use the discount vouchers on holidays.
9. Take it to go.
When you dine in, you need to purchase a beverage and tip the waitress. You may even be tempted to order more from the menu when you’re seated, enjoying the ambiance. As an alternative, how about going to a local restaurant for take out, then finding a scenic venue to enjoy your meal? In our case, we like to bring a jug of homemade iced tea with cups and forks so we can eat at the park or beach. The family enjoys dining al fresco for less! We don’t have to tip or buy beverages so we can keep costs down.
10. Skip the booze.
That frothy pina colada looks tempting, but what about the $10 price tag? You might want a glass of pinot grigio with your pasta but do you really want to spend $7 for it? You could purchase an entire bottle of wine for that price!
Skip the booze when you dine out. You’ll save significantly. You’ll want to avoid drinking and driving anyway. Purchase a bottle to share at home after the kids go to bed. You’ll be safer, more comfortable and you’ll spend much less than if you drink at the restaurant.
What are your tips for saving at restaurants?
Created November 16, 2008. Updated October 10, 2011. Copyright © 2011 The Digerati Life. All Rights Reserved.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Portion control is a way to help with the finances when the budget is tight. Most Americans over-eat anyway. Eating the best foods to lower cholesterol and regular exercise will also help you maintain your health.
Sharing is great and also ordering appetizers as entrees is another great way to save.
I find that the portions served at restaurants in the United States are always pretty hefty. So yes, by ordering appetizers, you’ll find that they’re often the size of a regular meal that’s served in other countries. I like the idea of sticking to the appetizers — not only will you spend less, you’ll probably also keep your weight down. If you’re opting for the entree, then avoid also getting an appetizer, unless you’re going for family style dining.
Good points. I would add restaurants that offer loyalty programs. I frequent a few of those restaurants and recived either money back or a free meal.
I just came across a few more websites that can help you to save at dining places, courtesy of the magazine “ShopSmart”, a sister publication of Consumer Reports. Here’s the quick list:
1. Savored.com — sounds like a great deal if you’re looking to eat at a fine dining establishment. You can sign up to be a free member and you’ll have access to discounts given out by over 600 restaurants. You don’t need coupons here to enjoy the savings. If you make a reservation through this site, you’ll pay $10 (to the site) but you’ll also receive a 30% discount at the restaurant of your choice. There are also helpful reviews here to help you select a great place to eat. The downside is that this service is not yet available in most areas (it’s only limited to 10 cities).
2. BiteHunter.com — this looks like a site that sources a bunch of other sites and puts together what’s good for a given day. You start off with your location (zip code) then peruse their lists of food specials, lunch specials, happy hour deals, etc. for your neighborhood. It may be suitable to use if you can act fast and are interested in daily specials and deals. They pick up info from Restaurant.com, Valpak, Yelp, Groupon, Citysearch, and more, which are well known for such offers. So this may be some type of aggregating service. BiteHunter.com makes it easy for you to do searches according to venue, deal and cuisine.
3. EatDrinkDeals.com — finally, here’s a service that organizes and shares deals, coupons and specials that are offered by chain restaurants such as Arbys, Burger King, Macaroni Grill (a favorite of mine!) and Olive Garden. You’ll find a whole lot more at their site.
Happy dining!
Some great tips… not only skip the booze (which are overpriced), but skip the soda too… a little water and lemon can make a big difference…
My wife and I have dramatically cut back on dining out. More due to changes in Diet, than Budget, but the effect has been positive on both for both. We don’t cheap out when we dine out but select a higher quality restaurant. I’d rather skip the pizza and McDonald’s 3 times a week and go twice a month for an actual dining experience. We’ve also cut back on the booze and I have to say the difference in the final bill when you get drinks and when you don’t is eye opening. So I’d have to say that’s the best tip in this list.
I agree with Darcy and krantcents. I prefer to skip the fast food and hit a good restaurant once in a while. I’d suggest you sign up for a restaurant email list to receive freebies on your birthday and discounts. Another way to save money on dining out is to wait till restaurant week to take advantage of the savings and top notch food. It happens on different dates depending on the city so you should check around!
Skip the beverages and enjoy water with lemon. What you save on the drinks will more than pay for an enjoyable dessert or save you about $3 + tax and tip for each soft drink.
Don’t forget to ask about discounts i.e. AAA or AARP.
Take advantage of early bird or happy hour specials.
These are pretty good. I might have a tiny argument with “use takeout and you don’t have to tip”. I may not tip 15% on takeout, if at all, but I find that if you use the same places often enough, a “keep the change” here or a dollar there helps a lot. People who work the specialized take-out sections especially seem to feel entitled to a little something.
I’d add:
– Dine locally to save travel expenses. A fine restaurant around the corner can end up being cheaper than a decent restaurant downtown.
– Many menus have a “senior portions” or otherwise-named page of smaller portions for less.
I agree with Myke. Skip the drinks, order tap water instead and I’d even say skip dessert, they are usually really overpriced.