Eating Out
"If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go." — Anthony Bourdain
"Instead of going out to a restaurant with friends and/or family do a potluck once a month" Unknown
TIPS:
Here are some tips on how to save money when eating out:
Use vouchers and special offers.
Take advantage of your member (student, corporate, etc.) discount.
Don't order alcohol with your meal.
Bring Your Own Booze (BYOB).
Review restaurants before going .. look out for deals ... best day to go
Don't pay for water.
Become a mystery diner.¹
Read the Menu Before You Go.
Have a Healthy Snack Before You Arrive.
Drink Water Before and During Your Meal.
Order Two Appetizers Instead of a Main.²
Check-out online deal sites such as Groupon, Living Social, Restaurant.com and OpenTable.⁴
Ask for smaller portions to prevent plate waste and keep you from overeating.⁵
Request a take-away box to take leftovers home instead of leaving food on your plate.⁵
VIDEO: Saving money at restaurants
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At www.restaurant.com you can buy a gift certificate for $10 or less that will take $25 off the total tab at more than 8,000 restaurants across the country. There is no enrollment charge for the certificates and they are good for a year. Some participating restaurants require a minimum purchase or enforced blackout dates. The restaurants are searchable by zip code.
Log on to www.chef2chef.net to get a list of local culinary institutes where you can enjoy gourmet dishes prepare by student chefs for just a few dollars.
Buy a local entertainment book for $25 at www.entertainment.com which is loaded with coupons for about $5-$2 off for your favorite eateries as well as stores, half price movie tickets and sporting events
Get Your Dining Out Priorities Straight and Save Money
You can print free restaurant coupons at www.momsview.com/printablerestaurantcoupons.shtml
You can print free restaurant coupons at http://www.wowprintablecoupons.com/
and www.momsview.com/printablerestaurantcoupons.shtml
Go to www.mommysavesbig.com for all kinds of useful printable coupons for popular restaurants like Applebee’s and Olive Garden.
“A Former Restaurant Critic Shares Her 11 Best Tips for Dining Out Cheaply but Well.”
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15 Ways to Eat Out on the Cheap
6 Apps That Save You Money at Restaurants and Make Dining Easier
An Insider’s Guide to Saving Money at Restaurants
At www.restaurant.com you can buy a gift certificate for $10 or less that will take $25 off the total tab at more than 8,000 restaurants across the country. There is no enrollment charge for the certificates and they are good for a year. Some participating restaurants require a minimum purchase or enforced blackout dates. The restaurants are searchable by zip code.
Log on to www.chef2chef.net to get a list of local culinary institutes where you can enjoy gourmet dishes prepare by student chefs for just a few dollars.
Buy a local entertainment book for $25 at www.entertainment.com which is loaded with coupons for about $5-$2 off for your favorite eateries as well as stores, half price movie tickets and sporting events
.The Year We Ate Out For Nearly Nothing (How To Eat At Restaurants for Free)
You can print free restaurant coupons at www.momsview.com/printablerestaurantcoupons.shtml
You can print free restaurant coupons at http://www.wowprintablecoupons.com/
and www.momsview.com/printablerestaurantcoupons.shtml
Go to www.mommysavesbig.com for all kinds of useful printable coupons for popular restaurants like Applebee’s and Olive Garden.
QUOTES:
"Vacation Meals: Our food budget is the biggest problem for us when we're on vacation. I have found a wonderful thing to do. About six months before a trip, I start buying gift certificates to our favorite restaurants. If I spend $5 a week on certificates, I will have $130 when we go. Also, we always stay at hotels that offer free breakfasts and have a refrigerator in the room for lunchmeat, snacks, etc. Dinner is the only meal that we eat out. Using the certificates, you don't have to worry about the money as much because it was saved slowly over time. If there are any left, you have a year to use them once you get home. Jessica L. in Florida from Dollar Stretcher Tips
Family Restaurant Savings: When our kids were young and we wanted to eat at a restaurant, we often fed them their meal at home. We ordered our grown-up meals and desserts for our kids. The cost of their dessert was usually less than a kid's meal. We saved money, and since our kids had already eaten at home, they weren't hungry and cranky waiting for food (and in the case of one, this solved picky eater issues). It was an enjoyable treat for everyone. Lorraine from Dollar Stretcher Tips
Simple Restaurant Savings: Our favorite restaurant is about a 10-minute drive from our house, It offers great food, but it's a little pricey. When our budget is tight, instead of giving up our favorite restaurant completely, we order takeout on occassion instead. We save by eating at home and drinking our own wine or beer. Patty from Dollar Stretcher Tips