When it comes to saving money, many people are quick to identify everything in their life with a price tag and do their best to cut it out completely. While this strategy does work for some, it is not always necessary. Instead of cutting things out, try and find ways to cut back in order to get what you want at the price you need. One place that this works particularly well is dining out. Often it is thought that eating at a restaurant is just a costly thing, but there are ways it can be done that save you big money. To help you get started, the following are a couple of easy tips for reducing your spending during your next meal out.
Look at Prices Ahead
The first step in saving at a restaurant is gauging how much you are going to spend and doing your best to minimize the cost. Vital to that is spending a little time online to get a sense for the average cost of the dishes that interest you as well as finding out what is outside of your budget. Not only will this allow you to figure out where you will be dining, deciding on what you will eat ahead of time can help you skip opening the menu, preventing you from being tempted to overspend.
Skip The Drinks
One common trap that people fall into when dining out is getting an alcoholic beverage. Though prices vary, glasses of wine and specialty drinks like cocktails can be on the pricier side, increasing the cost of a meal by a significant amount. While a drink may make for a nice pairing and accentuate the tastes of your food, if you are being conscious of your spending you are best served by passing on the alcohol. When you are trying to save, sticking with water is the best way to go when it comes to making a drink selection at a restaurant.
Pass On Starters and Desserts
Two questions you are guaranteed to be asked when dining out is about whether or not you would like a starter or dessert. During your next trip out, be sure to pass on the extra food and just stick to your entrée. Often times eyes are bigger than stomachs and when a miscalculation is made, you may be spending unnecessarily. Not only do restaurants often give portions larger than what is recommended for the average meal, skipping the starters and desserts will help you minimize the amount you dish out.
Appetizer as an Entrée
Instead of ordering an entrée during your next restaurant visit, consider trading it in for an appetizer instead. Appetizers typically include a range of dishes from seafood to salads and sliders. With sizeable portions they are just as filling as listed entrées. In the event it’s not filling enough, you have the ability to add sides typically paired with entrées, making it easy to make your meal your way without paying more than you have to. Appetizers are an easy way to cut the cost and possibly the caloric-intake of your next meal out.
Get Lunch Instead Of Dinner
Lunchtime is a great window for visiting a restaurant. Usually there is little to no wait at all as you avoid peak hours and beat the early dinner rush. Even better than that is the difference in the prices, which usually help to ensure solid savings. Sometimes the lunch menu offers dishes that are not available during dinner hours, providing a different selection and allowing you to try something new. And with the varying and often late “lunch hours” offered by restaurants, you can easily turn your discounted meal into an early dinner.
Split a Meal
An alternative to substituting an entrée with an appetizer is splitting a meal with a friend. Many menus contain dishes with larger portions that can serve multiple people. If you cannot spot them from the description, waiters can be asked for suggestions. Splitting a meal allows you to cut the cost of an outing and has the added benefit of helping to prevent you from overeating. You can even get an appetizer and have your friend or loved one get a different one and just split those amongst yourselves. It will still be a cheaper the cost for each of you getting an entrée.
Find Early Eater Discounts
Some restaurants offer specials based on the time you get in to eat or the day of the week. These deals are usually published online and can also be found within the restaurant. Keep an eye out next time you’re in one of your favorite spots to see if they offer any specials. Some restaurants even have nights where kids eat for free. Be sure to note a few so that next time you’re planning on going out, you can dine in the best places for the best prices.
Treat Eating Out As A Special Occasion
If you are focused on saving and want to reduce your spending when dining out, one of the best things to do is treat eating out as a special occasion. Reducing the number of times you visit restaurants automatically helps to reduce the expense and makes it even more of a treat when you do decide to do it. To stretch your dollar even further, when the meal is done be sure to request a box for any leftovers and take them home. Making another meal of them saves you money and takes away the hassle of having to cook for yourself for a night.
Author Bio: Douglas Keller has been a financial expert for 20 years, helping people reach financial stability. He now provides personal finance tips on his blog Peak Personal Financeand tips for saving at home at Payless Power.
