Save Money Eating Out

[pennypinch]

I don't know about you but I do enjoy eating out once in a while. The thing is, it's expensive with a husband and three kids too. I have found ways to make it affordable though.

This might sound cheesy but it's a big savings. We don't order drinks when we eat out. We just get water with lemon and we use the sugar thats typically on the table to make lemonade. There is no charge for water. Soft drinks on the other hand cost around $2.50. So we save about $12.50 by drinking the water.

Another thing I do is look for restaurant coupons in the newspaper. If you get the Sunday paper you can almost always find coupons for your local restaurants.

One more thing, if a new restaurant has just opened in your area you might be able to find that they are selling gift cards at a great discount just to attract more customers. I have bought a $25 gift card before for just $2! Not too shabby at all!

[moneysense]

With the holidays coming up, we sometimes get Gift Cards for meals at places like West Texas Roadhouse. We have never gone to the restaurant to eat but do take the Cards there for carryout like Cheeseburgers and Fries.

After the take out is paid for, the rest of the money from the card is given back as change. And this can amount to gas money for the week depending on the amount of the card you were given.

Saving money in every way possible should be a priorty everywhere. I know we do the best possible job of saving all we can.

[dimetime]

I eat lunch out twice a week every single week. This is a habit that my old man has and has gotten me into the habit as well.

Seeing as this is only for the two of us it isn't that expensive normally, but that all depends on where we decide to eat.

Honestly I love the dollar menu's at most of the places now days. This can be a real nice saving if you want to eat out and don't want to spend a whole lot of money.

If I choose where to eat we normally spend around $6.00 total for our lunch. Now if he chooses where we eat it usually costs us around $10.00.

Every penny that we don't spend is a penny that can put towards other things that we both want or need.

Though I never would have thought of making your own lemonade when eating out. That is really a good idea. Thanks for that tip, I will be sure to put it to good use when we go out again.