Even frugal people like to eat out from time to time. As much fun as creating inexpensive meals can be, a change of scenery is often refreshing. As any frugal person knows, you can always split a meal, skip the drink, and order water to lessen your restaurant meal. These are frugal basics for restaurant eating. Still, there are a few more ways to cut the bill.
Ask about the special to save money when eating out. The special is usually created from foods that are in abundance at a low price. To entice the customers to eat the meal that is cheaper to make, the specialty is often lower in price. Having the specialty soup as your meal is also a great way to save money.
Know the rules of the restaurant to save money when eating out. Some restaurants will charge a plate-splitting fee. Others will gladly split your meal onto two plates free of charge. Before ordering a shared dish, know the rules of the restaurant. If you want to split a meal at a restaurant where they charge a fee, just order the meal for one person, and have the other just order a small salad. You will have to eat off one anothers plate for it to work.
Order restaurant gift certificates to save money when eating out. Restaurant gift certificates often cost less than face value. This means you can purchase a $25.00 certificate for $15.00, saving $10.00 on your meal. Restaurant.com is notorious for offering these kinds of discounts. If you sign up for Restaurant.com membership, you will be informed of special offers. It is not unusual to find $10.00 certificates for $1.50 and $25.00 discounts for $3.00. It will probably be for unknown restaurants you have not visited before, but it can be fun to try a new place.
Beware of “Kids Eat Free” offers to save money when eating out. It is my experience that restaurants that offer “Kids Eat Free” specials have adult entrée prices set high enough to justify the free meal. Do not be fooled. It would be much cheaper for an adult to split their meal with a child at a restaurant that does not offer such a deal.
Opt for earlier meals to save money when eating out. At 3:30 and even 4pm in some restaurants you will be able to order from the lunch menu which is still plenty of food, but at a much cheaper price. By choosing this time period for your meal and employing some of the other cost cutting tactics, you are sure to enjoy a meal that feels like a splurge, but it economically wise.
~Andrea Hermitt writes for parenting (specifically teens), the home blog, and also the frugal blog, and homeschooling at families.com.
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Coupons: Chuck E. Cheese & Restaurant.com