Post from: Thrifty Mommy

 1.  Go out for lunch instead of dinner.  Lunch prices are usually much lower.

 2.  Check to see if your restaurant has promotional evenings.  Some restaurants have nights where kids eat free.  This alone can save you at least $10 if you have 2 children.

 3.  See if the restaurant offers frequent visitor cards.  This may sound cheesy, but some Mexican and Chinese restaurants offer punch cards for their frequent customers.  Each time you go in, you can get your card punched and earn free dinner.

 4.  Order water.  Sodas, tea, and alcohol can really spike your bill. 

 5.  Purchase an Entertainment or Attractions Book.  Each year, we buy at least one or two Attractions books.  Most of the coupons are for buy 1 meal get 1 free.  Not only does this save money, but this allows to you try new restaurants without feeling bad about the prices.

 6.  Check your mail and newspaper for coupons.  On Wednesdays, we receive the new sales papers for the week and there are usually some coupons inside.  Yesterday I received coupons for Golden Corral, Ryans, Hardees, and more.

 7.  Buy certificates from Restaurant.com.  You click on their site, enter your zip code, and see which gift certificates are available in your area.  You can usually buy a $25 certificate for $10.  The great thing is, after you buy your first certificate, they send you emails offering them to you at discounted rates (such as 50% off).

 8.  If possible, avoid ordering kids’ meals.  Kids’ meals are very pricey.  Usually the adult meals have more than we can eat, so we share with our kids.  Sometimes we’ll order a side item if we need it stretch a little further. 

 9.  Skip the appetizers.  We rarely order appetizers when eating out.  If we do, we make this part of our meal.  Sometimes hubby and I will order 1 meal and 1 appetizer.  It’s more than we need.

10.  Visit coupon websites.  I just found out about these and I have already found coupons for places in my area!!!!    Try Hot Coupons and Valpak.  These would also be great when traveling, since you won’t have a newspaper or coupon book that you purchased.

Do you have any tips to add to this list?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Post from: Thrifty Mommy