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Great Money Saving Tips For Eating Out In A bad Economy

Written by Lanette Brooks

 by Lanette Brooks

Eating out all the time is a difficult habit to break when you have a job and steady income.  How do you still enjoy the luxury of a restaurant or take out when you are unemployed?  Well, here are a few money saving tips that will still allow you the enjoyment of eating out.

1. Create a weekly budget of how much you can realistically afford to spend at restaurants.  Then, try to schedule certain days during the week when you know that it’s more convenient to eat out than to cook.  The budget and schedule can help you stay on track.
2. Search online and in the newspaper for coupons for your favorite eating spots.  The restaurant industry is also struggling.  So, companies try to find ways to attract customers.  Coupons definitely help.  You can even ask an employee at the restaurant if they have coupons on site for customers.
3. Visit eating places on days and during times when they have specials.  For example, a restaurant may have a “Buy one get one free entree on Tuesdays between 3p-5p” special.  Some companies even give discounts if you are a certain age or a member of an organization with which they are affiliated.  Just ask.
4. For you fast food eaters, try ordering from the dollar menu.  Many fast food establishments have a dollar menu.  A lot of times, they have the same types of foods that are on their regular menu but in smaller portions and for less money.  For example, McDonald’s generally charges about $3.69 for 10pc chicken nuggets.  You can save $.69 by ordering three boxes of 4pc chicken nuggets from the dollar menu.  You also end up with 12 nuggets instead of 10.
5. This next tip is for you debit and credit card users.  Try not to use your card to pay for your next dining excursion.  Instead, withdraw $20 from your bank or an ATM.  Use that $20 to pay for your meals for that week.  Card users find that it’s easier for them to track their spending habits when they are able to physically touch their money.  It’s easy to swipe a card several times and not be accurately aware of how much you’ve spent.  Try it for 1 week!

 If you have children, instead of hiring a babysitter, get together with other parents and child-pool. Parents take turns of watching the kiddies instead of hiring a babysitter. It saves one cost on an evening out.

If you must eat out on Friday-Saturday, eat at lunch where many times the same dishes are a few bucks less. This is a good opportunity to explore those mom and pops and expand your food horizons. Also, don't stiff a good server to save a few bucks. If you have to cut the tip, don't eat out or eat out less frequently.