Eating out is one of life’s little luxuries—but it doesn’t have to come with a side of financial guilt. With a few smart moves, you can still enjoy your favorite restaurants without blowing your budget. From timing your meals right to skipping sneaky upsells, saving money while dining out is easier than you think. These simple tips let you enjoy the experience, the atmosphere, and the food—just with a smaller bill at the end.
Note: The content of this article does not reflect the Writer's personal beliefs.
Skip the Soft Drinks
Sodas, lemonades, and juices might seem like small add-ons, but they can seriously inflate your bill when dining out. A single drink often costs as much as a whole bottle at the store—and having more than one adds up fast. If you’re looking to cut costs, skipping these sugary beverages is a simple way to start. Stick with water and your wallet will thank you.
Appetizer for Dinner
Lots of appetizers are big enough to be a full meal, but they are a fraction of the price of a real entree. Always consider ordering your dinner from the appetizer menu if you want to save a little money.
Share Your Meal
Many restaurants give out huge portions that are big enough to share with someone else. Share your meal with a friend or loved one, and if you are still feeling hungry, you can always order an extra side dish or appetizer at a lower price.
Skip Holiday Dining
Almost all restaurants will charge more on holidays. If you want to save money, do not go out to eat on any major holiday, or you will be stuck with an abnormally large bill.
Go For Lunch
Rather than going out to dinner, think about going out for lunch. Lunch menus are always more affordable and very often the exact same food that will be served at dinner.
Free for Kids
Many restaurants offer free kid’s meals when you purchase an adult entree. If you want to avoid paying full price for kids, look for restaurants with these kinds of deals.
Bring Some Home
If you don’t have anyone to share with, eat half of your meal and bring the other half home. This way, you can validate the cost of your pricey restaurant meal since it is two meals! One for today and the other portion for tomorrow.
Take it To Go
Rather than sitting down at a restaurant to eat, take your meal to go. You won’t have to tip a server 20%, and you can save money on drinks, which are much cheaper to buy in a grocery store rather than a restaurant.
Kids Menu Foods
Think about ordering from the kid's menu rather than the full restaurant menu. Kid’s menus often have great options at a lower price. Plus, very often, the servings are the same size!
Weekday Deals
Friday and Saturday nights are the most popular times for a restaurant. They are not likely to have very good deals during this busy time. However, go to a restaurant on a Monday or Tuesday night, and you may find some great discounts.
Look for Coupons
Many new restaurants will offer special deals and coupons. This is a great way to try a new place and also save on your restaurant bill. Look at a restaurant's website before you head out the door to see what deals they may have.
Credit Card Deals
Many credit cards offer cash-back deals or bonus points on restaurants. Check your credit cards to see the best one to use for dining out. You may be surprised by how much you can save just by using the right card!
Don't Do Dessert
Some restaurant desserts are very good, while others could very well be bought in the grocery store. Lots of restaurants actually buy their desserts pre-made and frozen. You could do the same thing, but at a fraction of the price.
Finish your restaurant dinner, and then grab dessert at the grocery store on your way home. You could also try making your own dessert using one of our unique dessert recipes!
Ask for Half
Restaurant portions are often very large. Rather than struggling to eat the whole dish, ask for a smaller portion or a half-size plate. Many restaurants will give you a smaller version of the meal at a discounted price.
Never Order Market-Priced Items
Have you ever seen foods on a menu that don't have a price? A lot of fresh seafood and meats will not have a set price; they simply say "market price." That means the restaurant can raise the price when the cost of the ingredients goes up. These market-priced foods are often overly expensive, and the servers can really charge for whatever they want. It is not a smart idea to order these mystery cost items.
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