Save Some Cash While Dining Out!
Last modified on 2009-05-29 02:55:19 GMT. 1 comment. Top.
by Jeffrey Jung
Dining out is probably one of the most social things you can do with friends. Problem for a lot of us is that it is really expensive. Aside from restricting yourself by chowing down on McDonalds or KFC, what are some ways to cut down on restaurant dining costs? Here are some of the ways I’ve managed to make dining a fiscally bearable task.
- Coupons
- Look at your Sunday newspaper, online, etc for coupons to various restaurants. This can be a great savings that you otherwise would not have received.
- Restaurant.com is a great place to buy coupons. I suggest buying coupons during a sale (they throw sales often and you can get $25 discounts for as low as $2). The idea with these is that you get $10-$100 off a meal but you have to spend a certain amount, you have to tip a set amount (15%-18%), the tip is usually added on the total of the bill BEFORE your coupon, and other various exclusions (you can not combine it with another offer). At one of my frequented restaurants, they require a $50 minimum to get $25 off. Without the coupon, and after tax and tip, the total would be about $61.12. With the coupon, the total is a mere $32.50. If each entrée costs about $9-12 so, I can bring about 4-5 people meaning that the split cost AFTER tax and tip would be about $7-8 per person. Not too shabby!
- Happy Hour
- Booze, food, and more booze… at a discount! Happy hour happens during a restaurant’s slow period (usually around 3-6PM) and during this time there are deals on appetizers, entrees, and drinks. A good example of this is Acapulco’s Happy Hour which consists of 50% off a select menu such as a monster platter for $5 and tacos for $1. I have managed to feed 3 people (including myself) for $14 AFTER tax and tip.
- Go for Lunch
- This especially applies to buffet style places. If you go for a late lunch, chances are that they will switch out the food to the dinner menu while you are still eating. This way you can fork over the lunch prices and still eat the dinner menu.
- Split meals
- Maybe you are on a diet or maybe you can’t stomach to eat the large portions. Whatever it may be, splitting meals is a good way to save money. Personally, I eat to feel OK, so I’m not looking to feel bloated or ready to puke my $10 meal on the floor. If I happen to be with a friend that feels the same way, we split the meal. Suddenly a $10 meal becomes a $5 meal. A small note, though, is that some restaurants discourage this by charging a fee for splitting.
- Drink Water
- Beverages at a restaurant are really a huge rip off compared to what you could get elsewhere. I guess dining in is supposed to make that soda taste so much better! In any case, most soda/juices will run you $1.50-$2 extra which you can simply avoid by drinking water. Beer at most restaurants is a big cost as well. A single glass will probably go for $3 but that same $3 can get you 3 glasses if you were to buy it at a supermarket.
- Check Specials
- Whenever you get a menu, there may be a section with specials. You might want to consider ordering off that versus a normal entrée. In some cases, the specials overshadow the normal entrees. I was once out with my family and I ordered something off the specials while my sister got a normal entrée. She got fries and a sandwich for $9.50. I got a sandwich, fries, salad, and soup for $6.99.
- Eat a little before going out!
- If you are like me and you eat out to be with friends, you may feel out of place or singled out if you go to a restaurant and order nothing. If you want to save a few bucks, you can eat a meal before going out and consider eating an appetizer or dessert at the restaurant. Desserts and appetizers are much cheaper than an entrée.
If anyone else wants to share their tips, feel free to comment! I would love to hear about new ways to save money when I eat out.
Save Money at the Movies
Last modified on 2009-05-31 00:30:43 GMT. 3 comments. Top.
by Matthew Manorothkul
With the economy we are facing now, who wouldn’t want to keep more money in their pockets? Going to a movie theater with a date or family can be rather expensive. A movie with a date can cost about $20 without any food! Going with family can be about $50! These prices are just for tickets. Imagine if they want something to eat. It almost seems like a day’s worth of work to watch a two hour movie. Why not find a way to watch them at a cheaper price?
1. To help costs on ticket prices, why not watch them during the matinee times? Instead of $11 or so, you could be paying $6. Not only do you save on tickets, there would be better parking, and the theaters would be less crowded during those hours as well so there won’t be any trouble finding good seats. Another option is to find discounted tickets offered on school campuses. Some colleges offer discounted ticket prices with a few restrictions about how soon you can watch a movie after it releases. Not bad if you can wait a bit. You can also call the theaters to see if they sell in bulk. That’s one way to stretch a dollar out.
2. Some theaters offer rewards cards. By being a member and building up points, it can later be redeemed for free drinks, free popcorn, free movie tickets, and other smaller discounts. AMC Theaters and Regal Cinemas offer rewards cards that are absolutely free to sign up for either online or on location.
3. The killer: Concession stand! All the items are overpriced. For example, a large soda will run about $4 while a liter of soda from a grocery store will cost about a dollar. Popcorn, nachos, pretzels, candy, you name it, it costs way more than it should. If there is a strong craving for those items at the moment, try to look at the combos provided. Some give refillable drinks and popcorn but the best solution would be to bring your own food and drinks to the theaters. Surprisingly, they aren’t strict about it. Personally, I’ve seen people bring in Subway, McDonalds, food from home, etc. Bringing your own food will save a ton! Give it a try.
Skipping out on snacks all together has benefits as well.
- No need to wait in line to get the items.
- Doesn’t add more calories to your diet.
- 6 Worst Things to Eat at the Movies
- Saves money.
4. Watch a movie at home. Movie rentals are cheap nowadays. Some local video stores offer rentals for 99 cents a day and some might have free popcorn Tuesdays. It depends on the store but most offer some good deals. Although the stores might not have the latest movie out, it’ll be a good quick fix.
What is becoming popular now is home delivery of movies. Netflix and Blockbuster are the popular choices that deliver movies right to your door plus, the offer free trials. It usually takes a day or two to cycle through the movies but it’s well worth it. It is a simple process to get the movie of your choice. Make a wish list online and wait for the mailman to deliver your selection to you. There are no shipping fees, no late fees, and you can stream movies instantly right on your computer! Visit each company’s website to find out more details.
