While it is great to be able to dine out once again, the expense of dining out remains high. Most of us have been doing a lot of home cooking so it is nice to let someone else do the cooking for a change. The only downside is the price tag. Here are some easy solutions on how to save money when dining out.
Get Happy at Happy Hour
Most people connect happy hour with drinks. While that is true, happy hour also usually means food specials. Restaurants have buy one, get one specials or half price appetizers if you dine during certain hours. The concept of happy hour was originally to bring in customers during non-peak hours. This allows those customers who do come in at peak times to not have to wait as long and provide overall better service. As well as, providing the business with additional income they might not have otherwise. Be sure to check the restaurant’s website for happy hour times.
Kids Eat Free
A lot of restaurants offer free, or greatly reduced, meals for kids. These deals are usually offered during certain days of the week so be sure to check with the restaurant. There are some rules for these specials. Some include the child must be under a certain age, usually 12 & under. Also, some require one or two meals to be purchased to qualify for the freebie. Either way, this is great way to save money when dining out.
Split a Meal
Portion size at most restaurants are huge and can easily be a meal for two. Rather than overstuffing yourself, share the meal with your dining partner and save some money in the process. You can always order an extra side dish if you need more food. Watch out for the “extra plate fee” that some restaurants have implemented. If you are eating alone, check to see if they will sell you a half portion.
Sign up for Rewards
Most restaurants have some type of email reward program. You may get a $10 off coupon for your first purchase. They will sometimes ask for your birthday and send you a coupon “gift” during your birthday month. By the way, nothing says you can’t have multiple birthdays! So be sure to sign up the whole family. You may need a different email address, but you can have a birthday at different times of the year. The restaurant is happy to get the business, so don’t feel bad getting the additional coupons.
Skip the Soda
Drinks have a huge profit margin in the restaurant industry. That’s because they are overpriced and should be avoided while you save money when dining out. Ask for water and a lemon and you can save three to four dollars per person.
Discount Gift Cards
Restaurant.com is a great source for discounted eGift cards. You can regularly get $25 restaurant certificates for only $10 with additional denominations available. But there are always some special deals going on like a buy one, get one free special or sometimes a $25 certificate for just $4. You can also get discounts on travel, shopping and entertainment. Once you purchase, just click and print or email in seconds. Perfect for a last minute deal. You can check out it out by clicking here.
Eat Out During the Week
Early weekdays are typically slower for restaurants. That’s why you normally see great dinner specials earlier in the week. Restaurants will try to entice customers to come during slow times to keep the business as profitable as possible. That is great for people wanting to enjoy the dining out experience while getting a good deal on a meal.
Use Your Card
If your credit card offers you cash back for dining at restaurants, use it! Some cards will offer anywhere from 1% to 3% in cash back when you use it for eating out. It has been said that you are likely to spend less if you use cash because you see it coming out of your wallet. However, if you’re disciplined enough to not go crazy with the card, take advantage of the rewards.
Like, Share, Tweet
Some restaurants will offer special coupons or discounts if you like, share or Tweet their social media posts or websites. They will also offer followers special deals. So be sure to follow your favorite eateries on social media and save money when dining out.
Shop Around
Time to go old school and see what they have down the street. Competition is fierce in the restaurant business so don’t be afraid to shop around. Websites make is very simple to compare prices and selections. A lot of the restaurants have similar cuisine, and you might even find you like the cheaper options better. Variety is the spice of life so check out the competition.
Eat Half the Meal
Back to the portion size, be prepared to eat only half your meal. Take the rest of your meal home and you have dinner for the next night. Or take it for your lunch the next day. Either way, you’ll be saving money on your next meal by not eating everything at the restaurant. Cool tip: Ask for the to go box when the meal arrives and put half in the box before you start eating. That way you will not be tempted to eat the whole meal and feel too stuffed afterwards.
Ask About Discounts
Many guests do not realize there may be discounts already in place, you just have to ask. Some of the discounts include those for teachers, students, military and seniors. The “senior” discount may start as young as 50 years of age at some restaurants so don’t be afraid to ask. Other dicounts may include auto club (AAA), electric co-ops, farm bureau or many other organizations that have some type of membership. Some eateries even offer corporate and neighbor discounts!
Have a Snack
Have a small snack before going out to dinner. What? Why would you eat something before going out to eat? Think about it, you are usually really hungry by the time you get seated and are handed the menu. You are also more likely to order more food, like appetizers or add-ons. A light snack beforehand can ease those temptations. Just grab an apple, granola bar or some nuts to tame that appetite prior to heading out.
Be Prepared
Check out the menu on the company’s website before you go. If you have an idea of what to order before going out, you are more likely to eat healthier and spend less. When you sit down and are handed the menu, there tends to be some anxiety as to what to order. The pressure is on and you feel the need to decide in a hurry. If you are prepared, you will know what to order before you even arrive. You might sound like an expert and be able to help the other guests decide what to order!
Do Lunch
Try doing a lunch date instead of dinner. Lunch is usually a lot cheaper than dinner at most restaurants, sometimes as much as half price. You may also get extras with your meal, like soup or salad, that wouldn’t be included with your dinner. Can’t do lunch? Ask if you can order from the lunch menu at dinner. Some eateries still allow you to order from the lunch menu. The portions may be a little smaller, but so will the price!
Order from that Other Menu
Not a big eater? Don’t be afraid to order from the kid’s menu. These days, the portion you get from a meal on the kid’s menu is plenty big enough for lunch or a light dinner. Be sure to respect any age limits that might be in place if enforced by the restaurant. If you order to go, all bets are off!
Be Kind
Kindness goes a long way. Kindness to your server can help you get great service, advice for the best dish or ingredients and maybe some complimentary tastings. Servers have a lot of freedom when it comes to giving customers options and add-ons. Why not take advantage of that by just being nice and treating them well?
Tip Your Server
We are all trying to save money, but don’t skip the tip. Servers make very small hourly wages (think $4 per hour) and rely on tips as most of their income. Plan on an extra 20% before heading out the door to go to dinner. If you don’t want to tip, go to a restaurant that doesn’t have servers.
Thanks for reading how to save money when dining out. We would love to hear any other ideas you might have. Leave a comment below and let us know what you think or if you have suggestions for other articles you would like to see.
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