Advertisement
Dine Out without Going Broke!

Blog | January 3rd, 2012

Yes, it’s cheaper to cook your own food than to go out to eat, but every once in a while it’s nice to treat yourself to a restaurant dinner. Dining out is fun, providing a different atmosphere than your kitchen table. While restaurants often provide more fun and fancy environments and delicious options than you’d get at home, don’t forget that it also gives you a night off from cooking! If you do decide to go out to dinner, here are a few tips to save money at the restaurant.

Wining and Dining

A large portion of a total bill is often attributed to drinks. A glass of wine will often be sold at a restaurant for as much as the whole bottle would cost at the grocery store. If you can eliminate buying drinks at restaurants, and enjoying the free water instead, do so. You’ll enjoy the savings. You may also want to contact the restaurant and ask if they have a corkage fee, and how much it is. Bringing your own bottle of wine and drinking it with your dinner, for a small cost, may be cheaper than buying wine at the restaurant.            

There are ways to enjoy having some drinks and appetizers before your meal without spending a ridiculous amount. How about inviting your dinner party to a happy hour in your own living room before you go out? With the high prices of drinks and appetizers at the restaurant, you can save plenty of money by buying them at the much lower store prices.

Timing is Everything

Happy hour specials aren’t just for drinks and snacks. During certain times, restaurants may offer deals, like a “buy one entrée, get one 50% off”. Many places also have certain times, usually their slowest days, where kids eat free. Call restaurants to see if they have these or any other promotions.

Another way to save money at a restaurant is by simply going earlier in the day. Lunch menus are often a lot cheaper than dinner menus, and in many cases offer the same food.

Create your own 2-for-1 Special

Frequently the food on your plate is piled high and you, not wanting to waste anything, eat it all, feeling far too full afterward. Restaurants tend to make portions much larger than we need. One way to save money is by splitting food. If you’re with a date, your spouse or a friend, consider sharing items. The restaurant will usually split a meal for you, although this may cost you a small fee. If this is the case, just ask for another plate instead! If you want your own entrees, but are considering appetizers or a dessert, you should definitely think about splitting those. After a full meal, it’s doubtful that you’ll need a whole triple chocolate volcano melting cake to yourself.

Take advantage of to-go boxes as well! Don’t feel like you need to stuff yourself. Your wallet (and your waistline) will thank you for bringing your leftovers home instead of force-feeding yourself. At restaurants where large portions are expected, you may want to ask for half of the meal in a to-go box from the start. Getting two meals for the price of one is a deliciously frugal choice.

Cyber Savings

The Internet is a great resource for saving money in just about every category. Dining out is no exception. First, try researching restaurants on their website. You’ll probably be able to view a menu so you can see if they are in your price range.

There are also a variety of websites that offer coupons and deals every day. A few to look into are restaurant.com, groupon.com and livingsocial.com. These sites have a constantly changing selection of deals available.

Every once in a while, dining out can be a great experience. It’s a fun event that gives you and your kitchen a break. If not done right, though, it can be very expensive. Try these tips to save money next time you eat out.

Do you have any tips on saving money at restaurants? Post them here!