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Save Money – Eating Out Tips

Sunday, 28. March 2010

Save Money While Dining Out

Saving money eating at restaurants almost seems counter intuitive. Let’s face it, generally it costs more to dine out for two than it does to eat at home. For some people, dining out is a necessity some times. How many times have you been finishing up to go home and your supervisor tells you that the report that is due tomorrow morning is now due before you leave? By the time you are close to getting home it is late and you have no desire to cook dinner. Here are some tips, advice, and links to other articles to help get the most out of your dining budget.

Save Money – Plan Ahead

So, you know that eventually you are going to need to eat out. And when it’s time to be dining out, you don’t necessarily have the time to look on the internet for which local restaurant had a special going on. Have no fear, coupon man is here. Ok, I admit that was pretty dorky, but it emphasizes the point I want to make. Plan ahead by clipping coupons. I know this seems like pretty basic stuff, but you would be surprised by how effective this is.

Let’s start by getting your chain paid discounts. One popular discount is to use the restaurant.com gift certificate deal. You get a $25 gift certificate for around $10. Now that’s what I call easy money. I found an amazing selection of neat little eateries around my office in downtown Norfolk, VA.

Another great resource is the local coupon magazine that is often delivered in the mail or placed out front of local grocery stores. The one for the Norfolk, VA coupon magazine is www.MoneyClipMagazine.com. On a slow weekend I’ll clip out coupons for the restaurants that I know are close to the my house, my office, or the route between the two. A lot of people don’t want to clip and carry coupons around. So don’t clip and carry coupons. Put the entire magazine in the car, your briefcase, or your back pack. Don’t forget to carry one of those safety paper cutters.

Save Money – Pack Ahead

If you want to save money eating out, the worst mistake is to go to the local restaurant hungry. I know that seems like an oxymoron, but it is true. If you dine out while you are famished, you’ll generally eat and spend more. To counter this, keep some small snacks in your desk, locker, purse, brief case, etc..

I recommend either nuts or dried fruit as they are fairly healthy. But is could be one of those small 100 calorie snack packs, some crackers, or even a couple jelly beans. Eat a small snack and have at least 8 ounces of water 10 minute before you leave the house, office, or conference. By the time you get to the restaurant your blood sugar will be back on the rise, and the water you drank will turn off some of the natural hunger signals.