Dining Out and Restaurant Money Saving Tips, Ideas and Advice on How to Reduce Your Monthly Budget

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DINING OUT

DINING OUT MONEY SAVING & BUDGETING TIPS

Affordable Restaurants & Getting Discounts

Timing Your Meal To Save

Ordering Wisely

Affordable Restaurants & Getting Discounts

Eating out at restaurants is getting more and more expensive. A family of four can easily spend over $20 at a fast food restaurant, and more than double that at a moderately priced family restaurant. And eating at a fancy restaurant is a real luxury for most families. One way to reduce the cost of eating out is to choose affordable restaurants, and use discounts whenever possible.

1. Eating out does not have to be at a fancy or expensive restaurant to be a fun experience. Just getting out of the house, not having to cook and having a chance to socialize with family and friends is what makes eating out special.

a. Today, most fast food restaurants offer several items that are nutritious, at prices considerably lower than other types of restaurants. In addition, another 15%-20% is saved by not having to leave a tip. When going out for dinner, save money by visiting fast food restaurants that have a nice seating area, where you can take your time and enjoy the “dining” experience. Skip the drive-through and enjoy your meal.

b. In addition to fast food restaurants, many other restaurants offer counter service and have very nice seating areas. While prices may be higher than fast food, you will still save the 15%-20% tip required at table service restaurants.

c. If you are looking for a family type restaurant with table service, choose an affordable, medium-priced restaurant, such as a Cracker Barrel, your local Italian, Chinese or Mexican restaurant, etc. These types of family restaurants are just as much fun as their more expensive “cousins,” the food is just as good, and you will feel a lot better when the check arrives. Try to avoid the higher priced family restaurants like Outback Steakhouse where your dinner tab can get real high, real quickly. Do you really have a more pleasant and entertaining dining experience at the higher-priced family restaurants? Is it really worth the extra cost?

2. Restaurant discounts and coupons are available from many local sources, for both fancy and everyday restaurants. So, be sure to use discounts whenever possible, and make sure to keep track of coupon expiration dates.

a. Check your local newspaper for discounts and coupons for local restaurants. Also, make sure to check out the local mailers for restaurant coupons. New restaurants are particularly fond of using discounts and specials to attract customers.

b. Look for restaurant discounts and coupons aimed at tourists. These can be found at the local visitors’ bureau or chamber of commerce, and in free magazines and brochures aimed at tourists. Also, make sure to check out the brochure racks at lobbies of local hotels for restaurant discounts. Keep in mind, you do not have to be a tourist or visiting business person to use these discounts.

c. Some restaurants are starting to put discounts and coupons in the local yellow pages to try to attract new customers. Also, make sure to look at those grocery store receipts for restaurant coupons.

d. Many cities have local entertainment books that can be purchased. These books will often have great deals for local restaurants. If you go out to eat a lot, purchasing a book may be a good investment.

3. Discounts and coupons for local restaurants can also be found on the Internet. Just do some searches and you are sure to find some savings.

a. Many national restaurant chains offer discounts through their web sites. By signing up at their web sites, you may be able to receive special promotions and coupons.

b. Internet sites like Restaurant.com offer discounts and discounted gift certificates at many restaurants. While there is an up front cost to purchasing these “coupons,” you will often be able to save more than 50% off the cost of your restaurant meal. And CouponMom.com members often get a 40% discount on Restaurant.com. Or try DinnerBroker.com, a free site that lets you book a table and lock in savings of up to thirty percent during off-peak hours at many fine restaurants. Discounts can also be found at web sites like EntertainmentBook.com and Entertainment.com.

c. If you eat out often, you may also want to consider joining a dining club that provides discounts. These clubs have membership fees and can be found over the Internet.

4. Other sources of discounts that may be available include:

a. Flyers received with your credit card statements may include discount offers for selected chain restaurants.

b. Points earned from reward programs with credit cards, airlines, hotels and rental car companies may be exchangeable for restaurant gift certificates.

c. And do not forget the discounts offered to both senior citizens and kids at many restaurants. Save money by patronizing restaurants with these types of discounts. Also, see if your restaurant offers freebies if it’s your birthday.

d. Some restaurants have discount cards that offer a discount after you have purchased a certain number of meals.