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10 Ways to Cut the Expense of Eating Out – Part 5 of 5

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As our 5-week series comes to a close, I hope you have either learned or been reminded of some options to lower your out-of-pocket expenses while enjoying a meal at a restaurant. Thus far, we have considered options 1-8 in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. In this fifth and final week, we will look at the children’s menu and reward programs.

OPTION 9:     Check the price of the children’s menu.

When you have more than one child eating from the kid’s menu, you might want to consider the cost. In some cases, we have found purchasing an adult entrée to split between our two oldest children (ages 3 and 6) is more cost-efficient than purchasing two kid’s menu items. If our children drink water, then we don’t need to consider that the drink may be included in the kid’s menu item.

As our third child begins to eat more, splitting an adult entrée between the three of them may be more cost-effective than purchasing 3 separate kids’ meals. Another option is to check the limits on coupons. In the fine print, the coupon should state limit 1 per customer or limit 2 per table. If the limit is 2 and the coupon is a buy one entrée, get one free, then purchasing 2 entrees to get 4 meals would be our best option. Any extra food will be eaten on leftover night. Our decision when ordering will depend on specials, coupons, and total cost.

OPTION 10:    Sign-up for reward programs.

In an effort to encourage loyalty to their restaurant, some establishments offer a reward program. Here are two programs of which I am aware:

1. Subway: Not all Subway restaurants participate in the Rewards program. For those that do, here is how the program works.

  • Earn 1 point for each dollar you spend.
  • Request a Reward card at your Subway.
  • Redeemyour points for the following menu items:
    • 10 Points = 1 Cookie
    • 15 Points = Bag of chips
    • 20 Points = 21 oz. drink
    • 30 Points = Deli sandwich
    • 50 Points = Regular 6-inch sub
    • 60 Points = Regular wrap
    • 75 Points = Regular foot-long sub

Photograph Credit: P. F. Chang's

2. P.F. Chang’s:  When you sign up for the Warrior Card and present it at the time of your visit, you will receive a 10% discount on your bill. This discount cannot be combined with any other offer. If you have a coupon, then consider which option will save you the most on the menu choices chosen.

As we conclude this series of 10 ways to cut the expense of eating out, I hope you have some options available to you to ease the burden of feeding your family when you are short on time. Remember that you can combine these 10 options to maximize your savings. Do you have other suggestions? If so, please leave a comment sharing your ideas.

10 Ways to Cut the Expense of Eating Out – Part 4 of 5

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Are you able to spend your time wisely by opting for a restaurant meal every once in awhile. I always enjoy the night off when we either eat out or bring home from the take-out window.

In our 5-week series on 10 ways to cut the expense of eating out, we have looked at options 1-6 in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. In this fourth week of the series, we will look at gift cards and gift certificates and using the TO GO option at some restaurants to help us refrain from overspending in our food budgets.

OPTION 7:      Use gift cards or gift certificates.

GIFT CARDS: Most gift cards are plastic and rectangular, like a credit card. They can be redeemable at one or more locations. Because the card is used like a credit card, you can carry a balance on the card. (For example, you have a $25 gift card to Red Lobster. You and a friend have lunch, use a coupon, and drink water. Your total comes to $22.00. You pay the bill with the gift card, leave the tip in cash, and retain your gift card with the remaining $3 to be used on another visit.)

  • If you receive gift cards as a present, gift, or bonus, then using them in conjunction with a coupon could dramatically decrease your out-of-pocket spending. (TIP: Remember to tip your server on the full amount of the bill rather than the portion you owe.)
  • When our credit card points on our Discover card reach the $20 level, I begin to investigate the options available. If there is a restaurant we plan to visit, I have enough points, and the value is worth spending my points, then I will cash in my points for that gift card. Usually I can cash in my $20 points for a $25 gift card which is a great deal to me.

GIFT CERTIFICATES: Usually gift certificates are printed on paper. They can be redeemable at one or more locations. The certificate must be used all at one time adhering to the restrictions printed in the terms of the agreement.

  • I have received gift certificates with our Discover credit card points. When I receive a certificate, I make sure to read all the terms listed. (For example, not valid on Friday or Saturday, excludes alcohol, minimum purchase amount, dine-in only, etc.)
  • Besides cashing in credit card points, I also purchase gift certificates. Two of my favorite places to buy gift certificates are:

1. www.groupon.com: This website is a daily deal site. Each day a new deal is posted. The deal can be anything from entertainment to food to traveling to car maintenance. If enough orders are placed (set up by the company), then the deal will be on. If there is not enough interest, then you cannot purchase the certificate at the discounted rate. (For example, the Groupon of the day might be a $25 gift certificate to Fuddruckers for a price of $10. If enough orders are placed, then you can purchase this gift certificate for $10.) This website is great for gifts and services your family might need.

2. www.restaurant.com: My family and friends receive these gift certificates from our family in celebration of anniversaries, birthdays, and Christmas. This site offers gift certificates to local restaurants that you find by zip code. A % off discount code or promotional code can usually be found on their home page. I will wait for an 80% off code, and then purchase the gift certificates: the $25 certificates will be $2 and the $10 certificates are only $1. Can you see why I really like this site? I do wait for the sales to maximize my savings. When the prices are low, I stock up. This website is great for gifts and for meals that your family will enjoy.

OPTION 8:      Get your meal To Go.

You can save on drinks and gratuity by opting to use take out. You can enjoy the same meal in the comfort of your home with your own drink for a fraction of the cost.

Some restaurants have different menu options at their take out window. A local seafood and chicken restaurant offers a great TO GO deal: huge take-out box of calabash chicken, 5 side items (baked potato, baked sweet potato, French fries, or vegetables), full take-out box of hushpuppies, 5 coleslaw cups, and a gallon of sweet tea for $19.99. This meal feeds our family for two days. At this price, it is worth the little drive to pick it up.

Whether you can plan ahead to purchase gift cards or gift certificates or you choose to pick up your dinner saving on drinks and tip, I hope you are about to maximize your savings while enjoying your family time around the meal table.

10 Ways to Cut the Expense of Eating Out – Part 3 of 5

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To date, we have considered 4 of the 10 options for spending our hard earned dollars wisely while feeding our family away from home. In case you have missed the first two segments, here is Part 1 and Part 2. Today we are continuing our series by looking at options 5 and 6 in our 10 ways to cut the expense of eating out.

OPTION 5:  Choose days where the restaurant is offering a special.

Many companies have daily specials. Finding those specials can be as easy as watching signage, listening to others, and searching the web. Here are some different types of specials that restaurants offer:

  • Some specials occur each week. The McDonalds, close to our home, offers $.59 hamburgers and $.69 cheeseburgers on Mondays and Tuesdays. On busy days, picking up cheeseburgers is a great time saver and doable financial option.
  • Other specials are available for a limited time. Our Moe’s is offering a buy one, get one free burrito every Thursday with no coupon needed until the end of April. My hubby and our son’s school teacher are big fans of Moe’s. We have taken advantage of this deal where the kids and I have delivered lunch to the school and to Dad at work. (My kids are always looking for a reason to visit Daddy at work.)
  • Certain specials repeat periodically. Our Olive Garden will run a never-ending pasta bowl promotion for $6.95. This special is very reasonable as the soup or salad and breadsticks are also included in the price. Sometimes we have chosen to drink water and then order the alfredo dipping sauce for our breaksticks. But with the never-ending pasta bowl, we can order pasta with alfredo sauce. Then dip our breaksticks in the alfredo sauce. (My mouth is watering for that creamy taste.)
  • Early bird specials can also be a great deal. On date night, Paul and I have dined out at Steak Ale. There early bird menu was available from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. We would make reservations and arrive by 5:45 p.m. We would then take advantage of the early bird special – steak, baked potatoes, salad bar, drink, and dessert for about $11.95.

 

OPTION 6:      Think outside the box: splitting or ordering an appetizer.

The portion at many restaurants is very generous. Our family can eat at our Japanese restaurant and bring home leftovers for two more meals. Because the portions can be large, you might consider purchasing one entrée to split between two people. My in-laws frequently visit Copper River Grill for their delicious food, large portions, and incredible value. The hamburger is so large that they purchase one entrée, and then add an additional salad. They both will eat their salads and then split the hamburger and fries. The meal is enough to fill them up, and the bill is reasonable.

Another “out of the box” idea to saving at the restaurant is to purchase an appetizer as your entrée. Most appetizers are less expensive than the entrees but are large portions for the purpose of sharing with the entire table.

When your family chooses to eat at a restaurant, do you choose the place based on the specials offered? Have you ever split at meal or ordered an appetizer for your entrée? When we choose to eat out, we do weigh the benefits of a restaurant with a special. For our family, we currently do not order an appetizer. As our children out grow the kid’s menu, ordering the appetizer may be a good option before graduating to an adult meal. When making our choice, we do consider the specials (price), our time, and the location of the restaurant.

As you consider the specials offered and the other options available, I hope you are finding ways to take your family out to eat, giving mom the night off, and enjoying some family time together while keeping your finances in check.

10 Ways to Cut the Expense of Eating Out – Part 2 of 5

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In this series of 5 posts, I am sharing 10 ways to cut the expense of eating out. How nice it is to have the privilege of taking the family to a restaurant to be served without preparing or cleaning up. On busy days away from home, I am thankful for this choice.

In part 1, we covered option 1 and option 2. Today, let’s consider Kids eat free and lunch vs. dinner suggestions to help us feed our families without over-extending our food budgets.

OPTION 3:      Take advantage of KIDS EAT FREE nights.

Many restaurants offer periods of time where kids eat free. Many times the establishment will advertise on a marquee, through print material, or on their website. Here are some ways to find when kids eat free:

  • Ask other parents.
  • Check www.mykidseatfree.com. You can search by state and then by city to find the promotions. This site is great to use when you are planning your vacation. You can plan a busy day when a favorite restaurant has a kids eat free promotion.
  • Consult your local newspaper.
  • Subscribe to online newsletters, mobile/text, or e-mail notifications to your favorite restaurants.
  • Visit the restaurant’s website.

In our area of the southeast, the following restaurants participate in kids eat free promotions:

  • Atlanta Bread Company – every day from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
  • Chick-fil-A – Wednesdays
  • Denny’s – Tuesday and Saturdays from 4:00 – 10:00 p.m.
  • Firehouse Subs – Sundays and Wednesdays
  • IHOP – everyday from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
  • Moe’s Southwest Grill – Tuesdays after 4:00 p.m.
  • Steak and Shake – Saturdays and Sundays

Most of the businesses have restrictions on these promotions (i.e. one free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult meal). As businesses change their marketing strategies, these promotions can change quickly. If I am not sure if the promotion is still continuing, I will call ahead and ask before planning our evening out.

 

OPTION 4:      Consider eating out for lunch rather than dinner.

Some restaurants have a lunch menu that is less expensive than the dinner equivalent. If we have the option of eating out at lunch or dinner, our family considers the lunch option. Sometimes time constraints will not permit an hour lunch, but other times (like on the weekend), the lunch option works perfectly with our schedule. Our family enjoys the hibachi-style eating at a local Japanese restaurant. The lunch menu price is $8 to $10 per adult, but the dinner menu ranges from $12-$15. Thankfully, this restaurant offers the lunch menu on Sundays. A special treat for our family is visiting this Japanese restaurant, where we also use a coupon (buy one entrée and 2 drinks, and get one entrée free), for lunch on Sunday after worshipping together.

When we can combine savings options, like using a coupon and eating during the lunch hours, our family may be able to eat out an additional day during the week. I love to maximize my savings. Though we are always looking for ways to get the most of our hard earned dollars, we also give freely. We may not pay for the second entrée when using a coupon, but we tip on the total amount the bill should have been. Our server, if attentively and friendly, will enjoy waiting on our family of five since the tip is worth the extra effort.

As you spend time your family this season and may need to eat on the run, I hope you will find these options helpful as you stretch your dollars.

10 Ways to Cut the Expense of Eating Out – Part 1 of 5

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If your family is like ours, then spring is a busy season. With sports games, school plays, and other activities falling on school nights, I am faced with time constraints for feeding my family. Sometimes the best option is eating out. Having someone else prepare, serve, and clean up can be a huge blessing on busy days. The cost of taking a family to a restaurant can quickly eat up the food budget. With a little planning and knowledge, the restaurant option can be worth your time and money.

In this series of 5 posts, I will share 10 ways to cut the expense of eating out. I will share 2 options each week. You may not be able to use all 10 of these options at once, but incorporating even one idea can save you money as you feed your family.

OPTION 1:     Use Coupons.

Many companies provide coupons for buy one entrée, get one free, $5 off a food purchase of $25 or more, etc. If you know which restaurants you plan to visit in advance, then spending a little time searching for coupons could pay off for your family. Here are some places to look for coupons:

  • Check the advertisement section in the phone book for local coupons.
  • Signup for free publications that contain local restaurant coupons (i.e. Clipper magazine).
  • Consult your local newspaper.
  • Subscribe to online newsletters, mobile/text, or e-mail notifications to your favorite restaurants.
  • Visit the website of restaurants for specials and coupons.
  • Purchase discount coupon books (i.e. the Entertainment book).
  • Browse a search engine (Swagbucks, Google, etc.) for “the restaurant name” coupons.

OPTION 2:     Skip the beverage selection and drink water.

When our family chooses to drink water instead of taking advantage of the carbonated beverages or tea options, our total bill can be 10-15% less than when we drink the Coke and tea. Our family does splurge on drinks occasionally. But when we need to shave the excess off our total bill, we will opt for water.

Not every option will work in every situation. Our family uses coupons regularly, but some of our favorite restaurants do not offer coupons. When we visit establishments without using coupons, we use some of the other ways to save money. Sometimes we choose to drink water and save on the cost of a beverage. Before making that choice, we check to see if a drink is included with our meal.

During your busy spring season, I wish you lots of time with your family. I hope eating out is a solution to your time constraints, and that these options help you save money as you use your time wisely.