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Everyone loves eating out. Why? You don’t have to cook. And you don’t have to wash the dishes later. But it can also be expensive, especially with increasing inflation.
Unfortunately, the menu usually doesn’t have a “save money” section. Believe it or not, there are ways to take control of your expenses without compromising the dining experience.
Although these 15 ways can help you save money, remember to consider your overall budget for dining out beyond just the restaurant bill.
1. Use Apps
Many restaurants, especially fast food eateries, offer many deals when you download their apps. And you don’t have to look far to find good deals and offers that suit your budget and taste.
However, ordering through apps can also be tricky. Some restaurants charge more in the app than on-premises. Surveys show that people spend 20% more on online orders than dine-in. So, take your time and do your research before ordering.
2. Stick to Water
Dinners often involve drinks, sodas, or wine. Once several people order them, beverages can really rack up the bill. However, a morning hangover is just as bad as a financial hangover.
Avoid ordering more than one or two cocktails, or just stick to plain water. Water fills you up the most and is mostly free or costs less than any drink on the menu.
3. Bring Your Own Drinks
Before heading out, check if your chosen restaurant allows you to bring your beverages. You’ll be surprised at how many restaurants have such policies.
Watch out for corkage fees, which some restaurants impose for diners to open bottles of wine or champagne they bring in. These fees can increase your bill, especially in high-end restaurants.
4. Lunch Instead of Dinner
Lunch menus often cost less than dinner selections. Since dinner is the prime time when more hungry diners hit the streets, restaurants tend to bump the prices by a few dollars.
Lunch dates are fantastic. Many restaurants offer free sides like soup, salad, chips, and salsa at lunchtime to make your midday meal even more exciting.
5. Cash in Coupons
If you’ve subscribed to your favorite restaurants’ email lists, you may receive regular discount coupons weekly or monthly. Some coupons may trim your bill by several dollars or even get you a free drink/meal.
If you stock up on enough coupons, you may get a free meal or at least a few dollars off the check. But make sure to check that the coupons in question are still valid. One way to do this is to check the expiration date or ask the restaurant directly.
6. Save Half for Later
Ask the person serving for a to-go box before that juicy triple-patty burger or the large pepperoni pie hits the table. When your meal finally arrives, store half of it for later in the day or tomorrow.
If you do this, you can watch your calories while indulging in your guilty pleasures and have an extra meal. Not only does this practice promote portion control, but it also helps you stretch your dining budget by getting two meals for the price of one.
7. Watch the Appetizers
Appetizers may seem cheap and appealing to snack on while waiting for your meal, but they can quickly crash your budget. If you do decide to order appetizers, ask the server how many people each appetizer serves before ordering.
If your chosen food place offers free bread, salsa, or soups, you don’t have to worry about spending on appetizers. You can save money or put it towards the main course.
8. Avoid Eating out on Holidays
Holidays are the best excuse for skipping cooking and going out, and a lot of people do it. What if you plan a romantic getaway or a family dinner on these days? In that case, your wallet is in for a beating.
Most restaurants offer bloated menus for holidays. In addition to an extra $10 to $15 for every menu item, you can expect modest single-person servings changed into expensive courses without significant alterations.
9. Look for Happy Hours
Happy hours are when restaurants offer a few food items and drinks from the menu at discounted prices. Happy hour may occur before or after lunch or dinner, depending on the restaurant.
Besides the timing, happy hours are perfect to treat yourself to your favorite dishes at cheaper prices. Check your chosen restaurant’s happy hour times, as they change almost monthly.
10. Eat at New Restaurants
New restaurants often have a hard time getting their foot in the door. They must sort out their menus, choose unique dishes, and train their staff. They often introduce trial periods during which the menu is discounted to attract customers.
If you show up at the right time, you could even get a free meal. Register for opening events for new restaurants near you if you’re into saving money.
11. Eat out Earlier in the Week
Early business days are often slower for restaurants since most diners are out working. To get more foot traffic on off-peak days, some eateries run special offers like an exclusive menu item (like Taco Tuesday), an all-you-can-eat spicy wing challenge, or limited-time two-for-one deals.
These can be especially fun if you’re with a group. So, to avoid crowded places with your crew, hit your favorite food spots earlier in the week.
12. Only Get Desserts
If you’re with friends and only want a delicious, guilt-free slice of cheesecake or a serving of peach cobbler from the bakery down the street, get it. Otherwise, you might be pressured into eating a larger meal with your friends.
It can also hurt a little when they ask to split the check. To avoid such situations, eat dinner at home or have something light before heading out for dessert. This way, you can have your desired dining experience and satisfy your cravings.
13. Share Your Meal
Portion sizes are huge these days, and it’s easy to overeat since most of us were raised to clean our plates no matter what. You could get the leftovers to go, only to forget about them and let them go bad in the fridge.
Instead, invite a friend or a coworker to share a meal with you; just order one entree and split the check.
14. Go out on Kids-Eat-Free Days
It’s no secret that eating out as a large family can lead to a hefty bill. Kids can be moody, and it’s hard to make them eat all the food on their plates at home and at a restaurant.
The best way to counter this is to go out when your chosen restaurants have specific days when children’s meals are free. You could also order an adult-sized food portion and split it among the kids.
15. Double Check the Bill
In our increasingly paperless world, where almost everything is digital, most restaurants still use a paper check. And it’s easy to hand over your credit card without glancing over it.
Some restaurants add a 5% to 20% gratuity to the bill and fail to list it on the check. It’s crucial to double-check the bill to make sure your hard-earned money is spent wisely and not on something you’re not getting.
