17 Clever Tactics to Save Big on Dining Out
Dining out is one of life’s great pleasures, but the costs can quickly add up. Between appetizers, entrees, drinks, tax, and tip, even a casual restaurant meal can easily set you back $20-$50 per person or more. If you’re trying to save money but don’t want to give up eating out entirely, try implementing some of these 17 Clever Tactics to Save Big on Dining Out. With a few small adjustments to your dining habits, you can stretch your dining budget much further.
1. Check for deals and discounts
As part of these 17 Clever Tactics to Save Big on Dining Out, before heading out, quickly search for restaurant coupons or discounts. Many restaurants offer special promotions like percentage discounts, buy-one-get-one deals, or special pricing on certain days/times. Sites like Groupon, RetailMeNot, Valpak, and Restaurant.com are great sources.
2. Follow your favorite restaurants on social media
As part of these 17 Clever Tactics to Save Big on Dining Out, restaurants often promote special offers exclusively through their social media channels. By following them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc, you’ll be among the first to know about limited-time deals.
3. Join restaurant loyalty programs
As one of the 17 Clever Tactics to Save Big on Dining Out, most major chains and some local favorites offer loyalty programs that earn you points toward free food and drinks. The more you dine with them, the bigger the rewards. Check if your go-to restaurants have a free loyalty program to join.
4. Stick to lunch instead of dinner
As one of the 17 Clever Tactics to Save Big on Dining Out, lunchtime menus are usually cheaper than dinner menus at the same restaurant. You can often get the same entrees for $3-$8 less at lunch. Plus, lunch portions are slightly smaller so you’ll likely eat less.
5. Go for happy hour
As one of the 17 Clever Tactics to Save Big on Dining Out, many restaurants and bars offer deeply discounted drink and appetizer specials during set “happy hour” time windows, like 4-7pm. You can make a meal out of shareable appetizers and drinks for a fraction of dinner entree pricing.
6. Order water to drink
As one of the 17 Clever Tactics to Save Big on Dining Out, beverages like soda, beer, wine and cocktails can make up a surprisingly large percentage of your total bill. Stick to water to keep costs down. Most restaurants offer free tap water refills.
7. Split an entry
Many restaurant portions are quite large. To avoid overeating and wasting food, split an entry with your dining companion. You’ll both eat a reasonable amount and cut the entree cost in half.
8. Order an appetizer as your main dish
Appetizers are meant to be smaller portions at lower prices. For lighter appetites, order a few appetizers to make a complete meal rather than a larger, pricier entree.
9. Get sauces and dressings on the side
Ask for calorie-dense sauces, gravies and dressings to be served in separate ramekins on the side. That way you can control portion sizes and avoid overdoing it with extra calories and cost.
10. Skip dessert or split one
Those big desserts at $6-$10 a pop can really inflate your total bill. Opt out entirely or split a single dessert with your group to cut down on costs and avoid overeating.
11. Look for specials and price fixed menus
Many restaurants, especially higher-end ones, offer price fixed menus with multi-course meals at a set price. These can be a great deal compared to ordering each course separately. Also look for weeknight specials on certain entrees.
12. Let them know you’re watching your budget
If you politely inform your server upfront that you’re trying to dine economically, they may be able to point you toward the most affordable dishes and skip trying to upsell extras.
13. Order kids’ portions
If you have a smaller appetite, ask your server if you can order from the kids’ menu. The portions are designed for children but cost much less than full-size entrees.
14. Bring a reusable bottle for water/drinks
Some restaurants charge for filtered water. Bring an empty reusable bottle and ask for tap water to refill it yourself for free.
15. Sign up for email lists
Get on the email distribution lists of your go-to dining spots to receive exclusive coupons and promotions on a regular basis.
16. Eat before you go
Have a small snack or starter at home before dining out. This can prevent you from overeating or ordering too many courses once you’ve arrived hungrier than expected.
17. Earn cash back or points through your credit card
Put your restaurant spending on a credit card that earns cash back or rewards points on dining purchases. Over time, these cash rewards can really help offset your dining costs.
Conclusion: 17 Clever Tactics to Save Big on Dining Out
With a few simple tricks like these, you can make your dining-out budget go much further. Resolve to be a smarter, more cost-conscious diner in 2024 without sacrificing the enjoyment of restaurant meals. Your wallet will thank you!
