Dining Out on a Budget
As you know, I’m a big proponent of meal planning and cooking at home as ways to save money and eat healthy. Most days of the week I prepare our family’s meals and it’s no doubt cheaper than going out. But the cook (that’s me) needs a break every once in a while. With a tight family budget this year, finding affordable ways to enjoy a meal out has been my mission. Here’s what I’ve found:
Weeknight Deals. Several of our favorite restaurants offer specials on specific weeknights. Our local pizza joint sells medium pizzas for $5 a piece on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. And I’m not talking cheese pizzas, but fancy pizzas like BBQ Chicken Pizza. A medium definitely fills up my husband and me. If we are craving pizza, we always manage to wait until a Tuesday or Wednesday night. Another spot offers $5.99 burgers on Thursday nights, which is about $3 off the regular price. They come with fries but you can get steamed veggies for no extra charge. Find out if your local restaurants have special deals. Just remember the tip for your server should be based on the regular price.
Skip the Beverages. I recently went out to lunch at a chain restaurant. I had a fabulous Southwestern Chicken Salad and a Diet Coke. I normally just have water, but my friend’s soda looked awfully good so I ordered one too. I was curious how much the drink would be since the price was “conveniently” not listed on the menu. When the bill came, my salad ended up costing $6.99 and my soda was $2.50. Beverages are one of the most marked up items at restaurants. Enjoy ice water with your meals. If you really want a soda, enjoy one at home.
Keep Coupons Handy. Fast food restaurants, sandwich shops, pizza places and chain restaurants often have coupons in the newspaper or weekly ads. I used to get so frustrated when I’d clip a coupon and then not have it with me when I could’ve used it. The key to taking advantage of coupons is to keep them in a handy spot. I now have a file box with a few labeled folders including one labeled “restaurant coupons”. I toss the coupons in the file and then the file box goes in my car. It’s always there when I need it.
Save Going Out for Times You Can Enjoy. It’s amazing how picking up lunch every day during the week can add up. And do you enjoy it? Many of us grab something because we have to eat something, not necessarily because we enjoy it. Packing your own lunch at least some days of the week is a great way to save a lot of money.
What are some of the ways you save money while dining out?