Many restaurants offer kids eat free with purchase of an adult entree. Take advantage of the truly free kids eat free deals to save on your bill.

Portions in American restaurants are mostly insane. If you want to save money, split a meal with your spouse or split the meal and take the other half home for a second meal.

Either way, you save money and get two meals for the price of one. Because so many regular meals are huge, you could easily get away with ordering an appetizer as an entree in many restaurants and still be full.

Appetizers are usually cheaper than entrees, so save some money and calories by getting an appetizer instead. Another great way to save is finding deals before you head out to eat.

You can often find deals and specials on social media. Follow restaurants pages on Facebook and feeds on Twitter. Loyalty rewards are a great way to save. Depending on the chain, you can earn free items or discounts after purchasing a certain number of items or a certain dollar amount.

Many restaurants offer you something for free on your birthday. Others send you coupons through email for birthday meals or treats.

While some restaurants require you to actually visit on your birthday, others allow you to use the deal within a couple weeks of your birthday or during your birthday month. Instead, pick your favorites while keeping within your budget. Simply dine during the early bird specials to save.

Just make sure you have a plan in case you get hungry later that night because you ate early. Discounted gift cards are another great way to save.

That said, there are plenty of legitimate gift card resellers online. Coupons are always a great way to save on dining out.

While coupons can commonly be found in newspaper inserts and in your inbox, you may have to sign up for restaurant mailing lists to get other coupons in your mailbox. If you do, the marketers will have won. Personally, we keep all restaurant coupons in a drawer then go look in the drawer when we decide to go out to see what options we have.

The books are generally sold as fundraising items, so you buy them without much thought to support whoever is selling them. If the total savings comes out to be a significant amount more than the cost of the book or card, go ahead and get it. Otherwise, skip on the purchase. If you really want to support the cause, donate cash so the cause will receive all of the proceeds rather than just a portion.

This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

Here's how to save money and eat out at your favorite restaurants for less. com , for instance, is a website that sells certificates for a fraction of their worth. You could be eligible for a cheaper meal simply based on who you are. Children, seniors, students and members of the military are some of the most common candidates for discounts.

Many restaurants have mailing lists that they use to distribute news and promotions to customers. Sign up to stay in-the-know. But if you find the emails are tempting you to eat out more, hit "unsubscribe.

To offset the cost, look for more affordable dishes try ones with fruits and veggies that are in season or opt for a smaller portion size if it's available. I have a BA with a family finance emphasis, you hit things right on, the one thing I saw when doing my internship and counseling families was that they wanted their debt reduced or to have the ability to pay their monthly bills but…were not willing to do what it takes to do that.

They wanted it to be easy and quick but…the debt they got into took time and changing spending habits. I love it when someone, like yourself, actually puts the responsibility on people with the habits that are detrimental to their families or their welfare.

What a great read! was a real treat! Also to get a turkey dinner at a time other then Thanksgiving was a treat. We just have too many things available at all seasons of the year. I have been guilty of too much eating out and seeing the waste and feeling the boredom of another meal out!

You just go out, order the meal, stuff the food in your face and then pay the bill and leave. It was nothing more then an act of boredom! I have used menu plans and will again get back to doing it.

It did save money and especially time. Also you could easily figure out what to do with what was left of the roast in the next few days. I will get back to making the weekly menu AND get the crock pot out and use it! for the kids and your SO vs.

buying them. Even bake bread! The main one is that the house wife or house husband needs to take pride in what they do. They make life possible and better for everyone in the house. A clean house, a home cooked meal, clean clothes and etc.

Maybe it is time to slow down a bit and live simpler lives. Paet, it is funny you should mention this. I took the thing home. Made me a cup of coffee, put my feet up and took a big bite of my dough nut. Boy was that good. I savored every single bite slowly chewing then sipping some coffee.

I thought I was eating manna from heaven it tasted so good. As I did that I realized part of our problem is we have so much and get what ever we want when we want it so often that nothing is a real treat for us. I spent 15 mins.

enjoying that silly dough nut but many of us gulp down or something similar a day without even realizing we ate them. I feel especially sorry for our children who are being robbed of so much pleasure.

Paet, I was thinking the same thing. I remembered when eating out was a special treat. In my household we decided to put the breaks on and become more self-sufficient. We are also trying to make new traditions and try to focus more on family.

They had THE best strawberry pie in the world. As always Jill, this is a great article. I used to love eating out instead of cooking. hee hee. I agree totally with you!!! Cooking at home is so much better for the budget and our health!!!!

You can have the children get involved by setting the table or depending on their age, even planning and cooking dinner one night a week. I did this with my daughter from a young age. We began with her setting the table and helping to clear it after dinner and then when she got older she would plan one dinner a week and with my help she would make that dinner, She was very proud of her accomplishment too!!!

She is now grown and out on her own, but I can rest assured that she does know how to cook! Thank-you for telling it like it is!!! I eat at home the majority of the time and only very occasionally eat out and although I have at least six cookbooks I still find that yours is the best!!!

My sister is constantly eating out yet when she lost her job she was relied on several family members to pay her bills because she had no emergency fund. I wish she would wise up as well as all those people who complain about their debt as they are driving thru a drive thru or headed to a restaurant.

Love it! I am so amazed at the packed parking lots of ALL the restaurants in town ALL the time! You go girl. I would like to say how very true it is that many of us do not realize just how much we spend eating out.

Since the beginning of the year, we have been tracking every reciept for all purchases in a notebook under a category.

We add them up at the end of each month. We were surprised to see even though we eat out less than once a week on average, we were spending at least a couple of hundred dollars for our family of four to eat out each month! Keep all the receipts in a shoe box till you record them and see for yourself what you are really spending.

It puts it into perspective when you have to face the numbers on the page. We rarely and I mean rarely go out to eat. We cook very simply but eat very well and we always wonder why so many people eat out for almost every meal of the day!

If remember correctly the man who wanted to be healed had to be the first person to touch the water and there was always someone who touched the water before him. The water only moved at certain times and only the first person to touch the water got healed.

I think you are correct but after all those years I think I would have scooted myself to the edge and kept trying to be the first.

Very Well Said!!!!! I could see that this was becoming a debt issue and told him, as much fun as it is, it has to stop. I am partly to blame as I was forgetting to take something out or would be too busy on weekends to cook when we would get hungry.

Planning my weekly meals has helped tremendously and now its a treat to go out, not an every weekend thing, and we pay cash instead of using a credit card. Loved this message.. hope lots take your advise.. we eat out very little.

But when I worked it was hard to take a lunch everyday.. It is a treat when we do now.. thanks for all the info.. We eat out rarely but with our life style it is so tempting to do so. We leave in the morning go out boating and only eat crackers and cheese or finger bun sandwiches during the day.

We get home about 9pm exhausted. I now keep a box of egg rolls, chinese appetizers, fish sticks and french fries in the freezer. We get home and while we shower the oven is pre-heating. Put pans into the oven and go relax while dinner is cooking.

Going for take out we wait 15 min. take it home let it get cold while we shower and it loses its appeal if not piping hot. But I still get to relax before and during the meal. Your remark about how your grandson can boil a hotdog made me smile.

The eggs were hard, the toast burnt, and the coffee full of grounds. She ate it anyway — what love! A year later, I was able to cook meals for the whole famly. If a ten year old can cook meat, mashed potatoes Real ones, not instant and vegetables, any adult ought to be able to do it with little trouble.

BTW, that family was Mum, Dad, and the five of us kids. Later, my elder sister moved home with her baby son. I just peeled an extra potato, and served homemade muffins for dessert. I had to laugh — at myself. To shorten a long story, 25 minutes later I finally got my food, and I was very hot, very sweaty sorry, ladies , and really pretty aggravated at myself.

NO, it did not. Boy, did I learn a lesson there. but there are times I just want to eat and not have to clean up. I am definitely learning that cleaning up a bit definitely pays in the long run! Love this! Our favourite: A rotisserie deli chicken leftovers become sandwiches , a bag of those 5-minute quick-cooking shoestring fries, a bag of salad and a tomato, cuke, etc that can be tossed in leftover salad with chicken on top for someone.

We would have some rolls too if we could eat wheat. Rotisserie chicken are a life saver I agree, I just wish they did not have so much sodium the one at wall mart have mg of sodium. There is always a trade-off, Chris.

Great article! We only eat out for special occasions. I cook dinner for us every night and spend roughly an hour as well as cooking breakfast and lunch for our family of 7 and packing a lunch for my husband. Thanks for your time! Elizabeth Gregg. Elizabeth, if you go to the home page of the web site and type in 30 minute meals in the search box you will come up with a whole bunch of menus ideas we have on there.

Tawra is wanting us to do a quick and easy menus book soon but until then this should help you. We also are having a sale on our grocery saving e book next week, I think, which is really good because it teaches how to not only make your own menus up but so many other ways to get in and out of the grocery store and kitchen fast and with less work.

My husband and I cook for four hours in one go on the weekend. Last weekend we added hand-held meat pies store bought pie shells stuffed with ground beef, potatoes, onions, and carrots and then individually wrapped in foil for quick grab and go.

Brown rice, ground turkey, onion, peanuts, and cilantro medley to eat warm or cold. Six individual tossed salads put into snap and seal and they stay fresh for five days. Roasted carrots, beets, and onions — just pop into the oven.

Steamed two bags of spinach and two heads of cauliflower. Microwaved four sweet potatoes, peeled, and mashed with butter and walnuts. Boiled and peeled six eggs. Homemade mac and cheese with jalapenos. Used about 1. All reheat well or are eaten cold or at room temp. We find it much more time efficient to multitask — there are, after all, four burners, and two oven racks.

Doing once a week takes 8 hrs that is the hours total for 2 of you of cooking time. a week when you do the meals each evening. Just so you would know. Eating out was a major obstacle on our path to getting our finances under control. How ridiculous that sounds now, treating ourselves to more debt!

The one major thing that has helped us go from eating out a week to eating out only a month is planning our menus. I can not stress how much this has helped us!!! Also, I love my crockpot, literally, LOVE IT!! THANK YOU!!!!!! I have been following you for a year now. Between you and Hillbilly Housewife.

Good job Becky! People think we are crazy when we say it can be done but you are the perfect example it can. Do you feel like you have really suffered or is it better?

Well said! My husband and I when we started out family made the decision to cook more homecooked meals. Dinner has always been an open invitation with friends and family so we quite often have last minute guests at our table, which is easily accomidated for.

We made an 8 week meal plan, and a master grocery list of all the ingredients needed for all the dishes. The master grocery list also acts as a price book so if something is on sale, we know if its worth stocking up. This passed Easter, our extended family wanted to go out to a restaurant for brunch.

Instead, my husband and I invited everyone over, and we cooked. Best part: I spent 30 minutes in the kitchen to make all that food. Simple things like a little bit or garnish, folded cloth napkins, fresh bread and a simple salad gave the meal a gourmet feel. It was hard to give up our fast food diet, but now when we do treat ourselves to it, we pay for it, and not just financially.

I WAS JUST THINKING-WAIT-I ATE LUNCH OUT TODAY AND NOW I AM ORDERING DINNER-WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE!!!!! I can justify- a lunch date with a friend, planned so that felt o.

k- then visiting a sick relative.. DEAD tired as my busy season just ended BUT whne I add it up- OUCH!!!!! I am re-committing to a certain dollar amount in a envelope a week and when that is gone- no excuses!!!!!!!!!!

THANKS for the kick in the butt!!!! Congratulations on your always wise and practical advice! You are people that really make a difference in this world! Hope your site gets known more and more internationally. You had some good points. I especially liked the idea to just take some hotdogs in the thermos for the kids.

Dinners or lunches do not have to be fancy all the time. I think for myself, I tend to get the pizzas or grab take-out when I am tired.

Some days getting a take-out pizza is a big help. I know it is quick and easy and may not be and all the time thing but really there are plenty of other quick and easy that are healthy. One thing I always say is that if you worry too much about every little bite you put in your mouth and stress if this has too much of that or too little of this that you are causing more damage to your health by all the stress and worry and not being able to relax and eat a simple hot dog once in awhile.

Not only are people stressing themselves out but causing their families a lot of stress. If a person is always worrying about something all that good food you ate this morning is almost canceled out by all the worry, fear and negative thinking done that morning.

You are preaching to the choir here! We ate out just last night. We could talk about anything we wanted without eaves droppers. No line, no waiter, no tip… It was great! The windows were open and the breeze blew through the house. I think we will repeat this.

Meanwhile, my son took his wife out to eat. I carry emergency rations in the car or bring the lunch box depending on what our plans are. If I ever consider going to fast food, I chicken out really quick!

It costs too much! Like someone else said, the food costs way more than what I can do at home. Going out to breakfast? One fried egg costs more than the whole carton of eggs! Why should I pay for that? Thank you for sharing of yourself as you share your points and ideas.

I have been reading your newsletters for YEARS and enjoy it every single time. Not many resources are written in such a friendly, frank way that I each time I see it, I am eager to read.

About time someone speaks out. And one if my pet peeves is so many people have no money for food,but are constantly talking on a cell phone,which i feel is not a necessary item. Now i feel better. Thank you. There was a sort of funny but very sad email that went around for a while a year ago.

Why was she at a soup kitchen if she could afford a cell phone for that price? Excellent post! Thanks for all the great advice! Great article — and great website in general! I just discovered Living on a Dime and am having a wonderful time going through all of the articles.

This one in particular I love — I have a baaaaad habit of going out for lunch, but have been working on breaking it.

I am saving SO much money! They are wonderful. Now, if only I can tear myself away from Living on a Dime, I can go start peeling potatoes for dinner… ; hehehe. Loved your comment Kristi — especially the last part about tearing yourself away.

Too funny. I am a recently divorced mom. I had to learn to not go out to lunch. I often did times a week. I enjoy getting your emails, I have really enjoyed this article. I am a rural mail carrier, and alot of times get in late off the rt. get home help feed the cattle, come in start dinner, try to clean part of the house.

Now that the kids are grown and gone I have done it more. Ouch on the ck book! I am trying really hard to figure out how to do a budget. Anyway, I have your Dining On A Dime and bought my daughter and my daughter in law one also. I got some of you ebooks also. There is sooooooooooo much more love in every bite of a homecooked meal.

There is a certain satisfaction of performing such a loving act for your family. Eating out should be for a special event or celebration. Not the other way around. Bring your family together for dinner. Wait a minute!!!! Every thing is backwards nowadays.

How sad. And you are soooo right. It does not have to be gourmet or fancy. Just go cook already. I just got this newsletter in my inbox today and am so thankful for the information.

I honestly have been so encouraged to change these bad habits because I have this information and support available and I think about it constantly. Now when my husband and I leave the house around a mealtime, go out for the day or could end up in a situation far from home for an extended period of time, I pack his lunch bag with some water, a flavored beverage of sorts, some healthy snacks or a homemade treat that I store in the freezer and a cold pack.

We then have an alternative to buying more food and insentive to plan ahead and eat what we brought. Thank you SO much for the article on eating out. Having lived quite a few years abundantly on less, I was beginning to wonder if anyone out there had a grip on reality.

Thank You for your wise words; I pray they are a blessing to someone. I love this article. We added up about Even when you are tired after work, the kids can help and fix a quick meal and they can also help clean up!

They have a lot more energy than we do! Did you have an article last year about growing a plant in a planter made of an upside down hanging bottle? If so could you send me a copy. I think it was in one of your newsletters, but I may be mistaken. Your newsletter is really great. It is a home economics class extroidenare!

Thank you, thank you. I pass this along to many of my friends. The only thing you left out was what we pay for water each day.

If only I would have thought of it first. Ann I know what you mean about the water thing. One of my pet peeves. I wrote a big section on it in our Grocery Shopping on a Budget e course.

You throw in bottled water and it can go up even more. I needed a few groceries and while at the grocery store remembered that advice. I went to the deli and bought our favorite rare roast beef sandwich meat, which usually is not on the list because of the cost.

Make enough for Saturday lunch and a Sunday lunch. Some fresh biscuits or toast on the side is a wonderful addition. So all we have to do when we get home from church is warm up the soup!

It has saved us so much money because we never go out to eat for Sunday lunch anymore. We used to go out probably at least once per month.

I had a teen-aged student male who complained about his stomach hurting. I asked what he had had for breakfast since I thought that might be the cause of the pain. I told him how to cook oatmeal and gave him a few suggestions for other things.

Several weeks later he proudly told me that he was cooking breakfast for himself and his younger sister every day. Such a small thing to make a difference for two people! As a recently divorced mother of 3, I am completely budget run.

During the work week, I can very easily bring my own lunch, but as crazy as it sounds— I feel bad when my coworker who is a batcheor and rarely buys groceries and eats out all the time but it financially stable has to go out to eat alone!

Maybe I will start bringing in lunch for him, too! My coworker and I used to spend lunchtime going over to our cafeteria and having lunch and talking. We decided, after many stomach aches, and other problems, that we would start cooking at home for 2 and sharing lunch. We not only had much better food but save tons of money.

Amen to every word you said! You are so right! I wish you and your family well. Will you continue the web site? Sure hope so. Thank you, Anne.

Anne, Tawra and her family is moving to Colorado and for the moment I am staying here in Kansas. I hope to move there eventually too. Nothing will change at all on the web site. We can run the web site the same way from any where. Even with us living in the same town Tawra and I do most of the web site stuff on the phone with each other which we will still do.

I laugh because when they moved to kansas and I was still in Idaho by myself I averaged plus calls a month between the grown kids and grandkids. It was a good thing we had free calling. The grandkids are dying for me to get a web phone this move.

Not too sure about that one. But it might be fun. I will get to visit them often anyway. Interesting about the man at the pool. When we say there is not time to do—we are telling God He messed up—He should have created more time for us. Appreciate the info you give—God bless on your move.

Everyone has a bad day or two, but and please do not take offense as none is intended, just an honest inquiry it sounds from the tone of your most recent newsletter that you may be experiencing a touch of burn-out. I see my husband going through burn-out at work and suggested that he take a few days off, and he is doing much better and regaining his perspective.

It is difficult, day in and day out, to help people with the same type of troubles, but your patience and persistence in doing so for years has made a lovely website that we refer to frequently, thank you for all you do! I seem to recall your having an ebook on dealing with chronic illness in home responsibilities?

Also, speaking for myself alone, it takes me at least 30 minutes to get a roast in the oven — I cannot peel and chop taters and carrots and celery fast enough and brown the roast enough to do a meal in 5 minutes. I think it may perhaps be more realistic for some people to suggest that the time is necessary but worthwhile for your family, because even with cleaning up while I go and chopping vegetables the day or night beforehand, everything just takes longer right now.

Thank you for all you do, and your many great articles and insights,. CJ it is called Common Cents When You are Sick scroll down the page a bit and you will find it.

It covers all kinds to things on what to do when you are sick and we try to encourage those who are. You are an amazing gal, and you probably do take 5 minutes only! Thanks, C.

I love your articles and look forward to them all the time. Sometimes I even save them in a special folder to go back and remind me. I am not good with archives ;- So I have to admit that when I read the articles it reminds me of my preacher preaching to me and stepping on my toes.

Can I get an Amen!!! I realize I truly need to implement the advice from you all along with my pastor. Thank you once again for a wonderful read!

I love these words of wisdom because they are truly nuggets of truth. As an older single man, who has always cooked for the family, and now finds himself alone and still cooking like I had teens in the house, I need help.

I find I keep saying that I will eat the left overs, and then wind up throwing much of it in the trash. The practical tips of eating at home are good, but what about us that need help with eating for one or two.

I have found that my budget has gone down some but still remains higher than I would like. Would you consider addressing these issues.

Keep up the great advice. BTW, I now make my own pizza dough thanks to Living on a Dime. Jim I get asked this question often. I have even written an big section in our e book Grocery Saving on a budget e course to cover this whole subject.

I mention many tips and ideas on how singles can save. One thing I think you have already figured out what part of what you need to do and that is to cut back on the amounts.

I make up 2 potatoes to mash instead of the 6 I use to cook. One for dinner that evening and the other I use for potato pancakes the next day. The better buy per oz. would be the 30 oz jar. Hope that makes sense. There are many little tricks you can learn. I am as guilty as anyone with eating out and rather than quit cold turkey with eating out, we have made a set of rules to help us step-down from eating out so much.

And last but not least 3: We put a set amount of cash in a cookie jar once a month for eating out and when it is gone, it is gone. I find that my kids love to help me in the kitchen, especially since it is grilling season. If the boys have sports practice after school, I keep a supply of turkey or ham, their favorite cheese, bread or wraps in my office fridge and make them sandwiches or wraps for snacks to eat on their way to practice.

It sure helps to not have to hit the fast food restaurant or the gas station quick counter. Good ideas Brenda. Jill, I hope the new books you are writing will be in real book form. I love real books. Ebooks are okay, but not the same. I reread and reread the books I have of yours that are real books in the evening while relaxing and I look forward to that many times.

I love all your books. Saves calories and choc chips for future baking. After all who made up the rule that a person has to use a whole bag of choc chips for one batch of cookies?

The manufacturers get rich that way. HA HA. Yes, Bea we are working on getting new covers and re-typesetting right now. We hope to be releasing a new print book once a month of our e-books toward the end of the summer…I hope. I have always loved to cook and have been cooking since I was about 8 years old, but when I went back to work full time, we slipped into going out not for dinner, but lunch every day.

17 Easy Ways to Cut the Cost of Eating Out · 1. Special menu. Many restaurants offer a reduced-price menu for seniors How to save money on dining out · 1. Hit up happy hour · 2. Share your plate · 3. BYOB · 4. Be careful on self-service The average commercially-prepared meal, by our estimates, costs around $ Even if you rarely spend this much money at

Savings on dining out - Make “less but often” your motto · Treat yourself, by yourself · Limit your alcohol intake rather than cutting booze out 17 Easy Ways to Cut the Cost of Eating Out · 1. Special menu. Many restaurants offer a reduced-price menu for seniors How to save money on dining out · 1. Hit up happy hour · 2. Share your plate · 3. BYOB · 4. Be careful on self-service The average commercially-prepared meal, by our estimates, costs around $ Even if you rarely spend this much money at

EveryPlate uses simpler packaging and recipes. This means fewer ingredients, fewer cooking steps, and a a result fewer dollars per meal. Not ready to cut out restaurant dining altogether? Socialization and even business take place around food, so restaurants are hard to avoid. Fortunately, you can save money while still dining out by practicing discretion.

If you use the right credit card you could save even more on your groceries, since they offer cash back. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes highly recommended. Small expenses can add up big when it comes to eating out at restaurants.

But small changes and considering alternatives like meal delivery services can also make a big difference. Amy is an educator, editor and writer. She understands finances are challenging but believes they don't have to be terrifying. Amy has covered topics from investing to student loans and money management for the millennial set.

It's your money. Make the most of it! Get thoughtful advice on how to save and invest in a way that supports your ambitions and values. SPAM sucks. We won't email you more than once a week and we will never share your info with third parties.

Credit cards Best credit cards of Best credit cards for young adults Best cash back credit cards Best travel credit cards Best credit cards for excellent credit Best credit cards for average credit Best credit cards for fair credit How to use credit cards responsibly How to apply for a credit card Banks Best online banks for Best banks for small business Best savings accounts Best checking accounts Best checking account bonuses How to choose an online bank How to switch banks Investments Best investment accounts for Best robo-advisors Best brokerage accounts Best financial advisors Best portfolio tracker apps Best investor tools How to start investing Roboadvisors vs brokers Loans Best personal loans for Best auto loans Best student loans Best mortgage lenders Loan payoff calculator Insurance Best car insurance companies for Best renters insurance Best pet insurance Best life insurance companies When do you need life insurance?

Life insurance calculator How to How to budget How to build good credit How to buy a used car How to buy your first home How to make money online. Advertiser disclosure The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which MoneyUnder30 receives compensation.

This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. If you live in a metropolitan area or college campus, ordering online is easy with Seamless or DoorDash.

Just choose the pickup option to save on the delivery charge. Once you get your lasagna home, add the extras yourself. If the experience of eating out is what you crave, you can enjoy it much more cheaply at lunchtime than dinnertime.

Many chain restaurants charge quite a bit less for the meals on their lunch menu. Examples include:. Some restaurants extend their lunch hours into the late afternoon.

Check local restaurants to see how late their lunch hours run. Many chain restaurants have happy hours before or after the dinner rush. During these periods, they offer special deals on food and drinks.

Other chains offer early bird specials during the pre-dinner hours. Some early bird deals are just for diners over For instance, some Golden Corral restaurants offer a senior early bird buffet deal on weekdays. Other deals, like the weekday Early Dinner Duos at some Olive Garden restaurants, are open to anyone.

More than restaurants have a birthday or anniversary club. When your birthday approaches, you receive a coupon by email for a free drink, dessert, or entree.

For example, I belong to the Baskin-Robbins Birthday Club. I get my coupon for a free scoop of ice cream by email a week before my birthday.

I can then cash it in any time over the following 10 days. If restaurant food is pricey compared to home cooking, the drinks are even pricier. Restaurants charge about four or five times as much for a glass of wine or beer as they pay for it.

In fact, the markup on soft drinks is even higher. And a cup of tea costs you up to 10 times what the restaurant paid for the tea bag. A better solution is to skip the drinks altogether and drink water with your meal for nothing. Ask specifically for tap water.

Note that some restaurants charge a corkage fee to open and decant the bottle for you. You might think the best way to save on a restaurant meal would be to order the cheapest dish on the menu — or at least the cheapest one you like.

Restaurants charge a much higher markup on inexpensive foods like pasta than on pricier ingredients like steak and seafood. Thus, these high-value dishes offer more bang for your dining buck. Moreover, pasta is a dish you can easily make in your own kitchen, even if your cooking skills are minimal.

And you pay that premium no matter what you order. That's one way to go, but if it's a little much for you, there are also tamer options out there.

I've been trying to watch my dining spending lately, and what has worked the most for me is swapping out some not all of those expensive meals for more affordable alternatives.

For example, instead of doing dinner every time, sometimes I'll get lunch, or go to a cafe for coffee and cake. Other days it's just cocktails instead of a full dinner and drinks. I've also looked for other activities to do when going out, like hiking, visiting museums, and seeing movies.

Switching things up is a nice change of pace, and it often costs less. It's also a good idea to figure out how much you're going to budget for dining per month.

For the best results, you need a limit and a way to track your spending so you don't exceed it. Budgeting apps can help with this. In fact, this card is so good that our expert even uses it personally.

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. Read our free review. We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.

The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

17 Easy Ways to Cut the Cost of Eating Out · 1. Special menu. Many restaurants offer a reduced-price menu for seniors How to Save Money at Restaurants · 1. Save half of your meal. Before your food arrives, ask for a to-go box. · 2. Use How to Eat Out on a Budget · 1. Buy gift cards below face value · 2. Ask for a discount · 3. Join the club · 4. Make: Savings on dining out

Or just split the bill Craft sample deals, like Savings on dining out Savins Savings on dining out Savinggs student days. But the takeaways from the challenge below are still relevant. My family only Savins out to eat once a year. And for the most part, I'm right. While there might be conditions or a limited time window, two for the price of one is a deal worth seeking. Many restaurants, such as Applebee's, IHOP, and TGI Friday's, offer free meals for children on certain days or during specific times.	If your daily routine is eating out, try to challenge yourself to just reduce the amount of times you go out in every given week. Jesus will provide when a person stops whining, uses the brain they were blessed with and gets to work. Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC , Salem Street, Smithfield, RI © FMR LLC. I love this article. Or just split the bill fairly, like you did in your student days.	17 Easy Ways to Cut the Cost of Eating Out · 1. Special menu. Many restaurants offer a reduced-price menu for seniors How to save money on dining out · 1. Hit up happy hour · 2. Share your plate · 3. BYOB · 4. Be careful on self-service The average commercially-prepared meal, by our estimates, costs around $ Even if you rarely spend this much money at	An Insider's Guide to Saving Money at Restaurants · 1. Instead of ordering a soda or wine, drink water. · 2. Go with someone who is The average commercially-prepared meal, by our estimates, costs around $ Even if you rarely spend this much money at boking.info › Money	How to Save Money at Restaurants · 1. Save half of your meal. Before your food arrives, ask for a to-go box. · 2. Use 26 Ways to Save Money Eating Out at Restaurants · 1. Take Advantage of Military or Veteran Discounts · 2. Bring Coupons Make “less but often” your motto · Treat yourself, by yourself · Limit your alcohol intake rather than cutting booze out
Savings on dining out out now, Savings on dining out special Savigns all. I let Svaings broth cook for a few more hours. The better buy per oz. Happy birthday to you! One easy way to reduce your dining out bill is reducing the number of times you eat out because you forgot to set something out for dinner.	At that moment it was free delivered pizza. Lots of good ideas to bring gluten free products back into line with a normal budget! I love it when someone, like yourself, actually puts the responsibility on people with the habits that are detrimental to their families or their welfare. All sat down at night for supper around a table and ate ONE meal, the same food for everyone. Then, once the charge posts to your credit card statement, check that it matches the photo.	17 Easy Ways to Cut the Cost of Eating Out · 1. Special menu. Many restaurants offer a reduced-price menu for seniors How to save money on dining out · 1. Hit up happy hour · 2. Share your plate · 3. BYOB · 4. Be careful on self-service The average commercially-prepared meal, by our estimates, costs around $ Even if you rarely spend this much money at	The average commercially-prepared meal, by our estimates, costs around $ Even if you rarely spend this much money at An Insider's Guide to Saving Money at Restaurants · 1. Instead of ordering a soda or wine, drink water. · 2. Go with someone who is Missing	17 Easy Ways to Cut the Cost of Eating Out · 1. Special menu. Many restaurants offer a reduced-price menu for seniors How to save money on dining out · 1. Hit up happy hour · 2. Share your plate · 3. BYOB · 4. Be careful on self-service The average commercially-prepared meal, by our estimates, costs around $ Even if you rarely spend this much money at
Meanwhile, my son took his wife Savins to eat. Can I get an Oug In the Savings on dining out, visit Women Talk Pn to stay up to date. Free product samples Savings on dining out it may Savings on dining out be more Savibgs for some people to suggest that the uot is ddining but Savnigs for your family, because even with cleaning up while I go and chopping vegetables the day or night beforehand, everything just takes longer right now. Jim I get asked this question often. This worked out well for the busy nights spent driving from scouts, to church, to practice, to school events etc… This was much better than sitting idle in the long line of cars wrapped around the building of a local fast food joint. We eat out rarely but with our life style it is so tempting to do so.	Roasted carrots, beets, and onions — just pop into the oven. I bring my lunch and breakfast every day to work and like that I can buy a whole package of English muffins for the price of one muffin at our deli here in the building. DEAD tired as my busy season just ended BUT whne I add it up- OUCH!!!!! I plan the day before, and have a meal in the crock pot for supper. Your email address will not be published. Eating out is among the of the top causes of personal debt. Besides, if you are really serious about saving money, there are ways to make cooking at home much easier.	17 Easy Ways to Cut the Cost of Eating Out · 1. Special menu. Many restaurants offer a reduced-price menu for seniors How to save money on dining out · 1. Hit up happy hour · 2. Share your plate · 3. BYOB · 4. Be careful on self-service The average commercially-prepared meal, by our estimates, costs around $ Even if you rarely spend this much money at	17 Easy Ways to Cut the Cost of Eating Out · 1. Special menu. Many restaurants offer a reduced-price menu for seniors 12 Simple Tricks for Saving Money When You're Out at a Restaurant · Like 'em · Celebrate good times · Avoid holiday It depends on what food you like but try for restaurants where you get enough for the next day. If going to a place	It depends on what food you like but try for restaurants where you get enough for the next day. If going to a place boking.info › Money 12 Simple Tricks for Saving Money When You're Out at a Restaurant · Like 'em · Celebrate good times · Avoid holiday

Video