Savvy Grocery & Dining Tips
- When at a restaurant, split a bigger meal between two people. You not only save money, but you won’t be tempted to overeat.
- Cook more often at home. Eat leftovers. Eat out less often.
- If you do go out to restaurants, get cash back and even win monthly jackpots by joining Mogl.com, it's free!
- Instead of sodas, coffee, tea, or juice drink water – it’s free and has zero calories. Try adding lemon or a slice of cucumber in the water.
- Host potluck parties with friends. It’s more fun, saves you money, you can be loud and you don’t have to tip.
- When you do go out to eat, get discount vouchers to your favorite restaurants at Restaurants.com.
- Want an alternative to expensive coffee? Check out CoffeeForLess.com.
- When grocery shopping, reach for items on the top and bottom shelves, they are often cheaper than the ones at eye level.
- For more frugal tips and ideas, click here.
Ways To Save Money When Eating Out
Even though it's ultimately more frugal and cheaper to eat in vs. going out, sometimes it's a nice treat to get together with friends or just eat something that you normally won't make for yourself or your family at home. You really can have your frugal cake and eat it too!
Here are some frugal food tips for anyone to use in order to save money when going out to eat at restaurants. Bon appetite!
Set A Budget: Allocate a certain amount of money when going out. For example, if you limit yourself to spend only $15 - then you won't be tempted to order anything higher than that.
Just Appetizers: I just did this the other day at one of my favorite French restaurants. I ordered the appetizer version of one of their main entrees. Not only was the appetizer portion enough, but any bigger would be too much food.
Cash Back From Restaurants: Maximize your dining experience by getting cash-back from your favorite local restaurants.
Split Your Meal: Save money by splitting an entree with or without an appetizer or salad with another person. The bonus is that you won't be tempted to overeat.
Snap Up Deals: Be on the lookout from daily deal sites such as LivingSocial or Groupon. Redeem restaurant deals that you know you will really take advantage of.
Eat Your Leftovers: Often times, you or someone in your group have leftovers. It's quite wasteful to throw away perfectly good food that you already paid for. Ask for a doggie bag, make something creative with your leftovers the next day, chances are it will taste better too.
Coupons: Take advantage of restaurant coupons you get in the mail or in Sunday papers. Clip out coupons you know you will actually use.
Order Takeout: If you are in the mood for your favorite restaurant cuisine, place your order to go. You not only save money on the service tip, but you don't have to order drinks since you already have something at home to drink with your meal.
Restaurant Vouchers: Get discount vouchers to your favorite restaurants at Restaurants.com. Most $25 gift certificates or vouchers cost only $10 or even less when they have special promotions!
Membership Discounts: If you have a membership with AAA or AARP, you can get great discounts on restaurants such as Mimi's Cafe, El Torito, Denny's and more.
Order Water: Instead of sodas, coffee, tea, or juice drink water – it’s free and has zero calories. Try adding lemon or a slice of cucumber in the water.
Yelp It First: Before going to a restaurant I've never been to, I always check it out on Yelp first. I read the reviews and check out their menu for entree selection and prices. Often times, you can get a sense of if this is a restaurant you want to try.
Skip Dessert: Although this is very tempting, often times your main meal was more than enough. You don't really need that plate of chocolate cake a-la-mode! But, if you have to have dessert, split it amongst the group you are dining with.
Earn Rewards: Research which credit card offers the best percentage back when you use that card when paying for going out to restaurants. You can earn 5% quarterly on purchases at restaurants from certain credit card companies.
Potlucks: A slight take on "going out to eat", host a potluck party outdoors with friends. It’s more fun, saves you money, you can be loud and you don’t have to tip.
Here are some frugal food tips for anyone to use in order to save money when going out to eat at restaurants. Bon appetite!
Set A Budget: Allocate a certain amount of money when going out. For example, if you limit yourself to spend only $15 - then you won't be tempted to order anything higher than that.
Just Appetizers: I just did this the other day at one of my favorite French restaurants. I ordered the appetizer version of one of their main entrees. Not only was the appetizer portion enough, but any bigger would be too much food.
Cash Back From Restaurants: Maximize your dining experience by getting cash-back from your favorite local restaurants.
Split Your Meal: Save money by splitting an entree with or without an appetizer or salad with another person. The bonus is that you won't be tempted to overeat.
Snap Up Deals: Be on the lookout from daily deal sites such as LivingSocial or Groupon. Redeem restaurant deals that you know you will really take advantage of.
Eat Your Leftovers: Often times, you or someone in your group have leftovers. It's quite wasteful to throw away perfectly good food that you already paid for. Ask for a doggie bag, make something creative with your leftovers the next day, chances are it will taste better too.
Coupons: Take advantage of restaurant coupons you get in the mail or in Sunday papers. Clip out coupons you know you will actually use.
Order Takeout: If you are in the mood for your favorite restaurant cuisine, place your order to go. You not only save money on the service tip, but you don't have to order drinks since you already have something at home to drink with your meal.
Restaurant Vouchers: Get discount vouchers to your favorite restaurants at Restaurants.com. Most $25 gift certificates or vouchers cost only $10 or even less when they have special promotions!
Membership Discounts: If you have a membership with AAA or AARP, you can get great discounts on restaurants such as Mimi's Cafe, El Torito, Denny's and more.
Order Water: Instead of sodas, coffee, tea, or juice drink water – it’s free and has zero calories. Try adding lemon or a slice of cucumber in the water.
Yelp It First: Before going to a restaurant I've never been to, I always check it out on Yelp first. I read the reviews and check out their menu for entree selection and prices. Often times, you can get a sense of if this is a restaurant you want to try.
Skip Dessert: Although this is very tempting, often times your main meal was more than enough. You don't really need that plate of chocolate cake a-la-mode! But, if you have to have dessert, split it amongst the group you are dining with.
Earn Rewards: Research which credit card offers the best percentage back when you use that card when paying for going out to restaurants. You can earn 5% quarterly on purchases at restaurants from certain credit card companies.
Potlucks: A slight take on "going out to eat", host a potluck party outdoors with friends. It’s more fun, saves you money, you can be loud and you don’t have to tip.
Resources on Frugal Food & Dining
• Save Thousands Grocery Shopping - How a average family of 4 saved up to $240/month.
• Guide To Once A Month Cooking - Frugal mom's system to simplify your life.
• Make Your Favorite Restaurant Dishes At Home - Easily cook restaurant dishes at home.
• Save Money On Restaurant Dining - Get cash back by going to your favorite restaurants.
• How To Survive Inflation With The Rising Cost Of Food - Secrets on how to save on food.
• Guide To Once A Month Cooking - Frugal mom's system to simplify your life.
• Make Your Favorite Restaurant Dishes At Home - Easily cook restaurant dishes at home.
• Save Money On Restaurant Dining - Get cash back by going to your favorite restaurants.
• How To Survive Inflation With The Rising Cost Of Food - Secrets on how to save on food.
