Money Monday: 5 Money Saving Tips when Eating Out

We all know it’s far cheaper to cook at home instead of eating out, but there are those times when you just don’t feel like cooking. There are also certain restaurants that no matter how hard we try, we just can’t cook that dish the same way.

Eating out can add up very quickly and by the end of the month, we’re left wondering where the hundreds of dollars have gone. But just because we go out to eat doesn’t mean it has to break the bank. Here are five ways to dine cheaply (and no, it doesn’t mean you have to go to McDonalds), while eating well.

1. Restaurant.com will save you roughly 30 percent off your bill. The website offers $25 restaurant gift certificates for only $10, saving you $15 right off the bat. But there’s an even cheaper way to do this. About once a month, Slickdeals will post a great sale at Restaurant.com. It’s usually 80 percent off the already cheap price of $10, so you get a $25 gift certificate for just a few dollars. To find offers for restaurants in your area, simply type in your zip code.

2. Once you have your certificate, the next step is to watch what you order. The highest markup in restaurants is typically on drinks, especially alcohol. You can make that same drink at home for a tenth of what it costs in a restaurant and with little effort. To save money (of course, this doesn’t count special occasions), drink water with your meal.

3. Restaurant portions are often huge, so look into sharing a meal or ordering off the kid’s menu if you find yourself taking home a lot of leftovers. On the other hand, half portions often only cost 20 percent to 30 percent less than a full plate, so you might as well get the full version and eat leftovers for the next day or two. Regardless, as part of healthy eating, don’t overeat just because it’s there.

4. Order an extra side instead of an appetizer. Appetizers often carry a high markup for not a lot of food.

5. Lastly, go out to eat during happy hours. Food is generally cheaper during these times and many bars also offer drink specials. If you can’t make it for happy hour, try going out for lunch instead of dinner. The portions are more normally sized and lunch specials usually cost far less.

Source: Quizzle.com

Tags: eating out, money monday, working divas save money

Category: Savvy Savers