Eating out is life! Correct us if we are wrong. But there’s nothing better in the world than to dress up, visit your favorite restaurant, and bite into that succulent steak or dig into your favorite dessert. We know, homecooked meals are the ultimate, and it does a whole world of good to our health. But indulging once in a while in gastronomical heaven is something we all look forward to.
But what we don’t look forward to is looking at lighter purses after a visit to pricey restaurants. We know the pocket pinch kind of ruins all the fun, well, at least some of it, so what should you do? Should you stop eating at restaurants? No, not at all! You should go. But follow these money-saving hacks, which can get you the best out of a restaurant at a much lesser cost. So, don’t lose your mind and don’t blow your budget. Save money the right way.
Eat Less
Now that sounds super dicey. How can you eat less when you are surrounded by what looks like a foodie’s paradise. Well, restaurants serve far more than you should ideally eat. If you are ordering soups for two people, order one soup, and divide them into two. This would help you enjoy a meal by paying half the price.
A sure shot way to save money and save your health, if you know what we mean. Please think before you order. There are instances when we end up ordering way more than we can eat and then start overeating. You end up putting on the very weight you fought so hard to lose at the gym. It’s always wise to be calorie conscious because it also leads you to the path of being money conscious.
Discounts and Coupons
Most restaurants offer special discounts and offer in the festive season and at other times. Sign up for email alerts. You may find it a little annoying to receive constant notifications. But, if one of those notifications helps you save a bit of your hard-earned money, then why not? You can even create a separate email for coupons. This way, you don’t have to sift your way to a barrage of unimportant emails.
Opt for Lunch Dates
How about going on a lunch date? Sometimes lunch meal options are cheaper, and you may be lucky enough to get a complimentary salad or soup. This helps you save money because you don’t have to spend extra money on the menu. Even if you go for dinners, you can save money by leaving out the appetizer or the dessert. This way, you will enjoy your food and save money.
Skip the Desserts
Every time you go to a restaurant and indulge in desserts, you end up footing a massive bill. And this would ruin your memories of an otherwise perfect day. So, skip the desserts.
However, if you are heading to a restaurant only for the desserts, skip the appetizers and starters. It is also good to remember you are there at a restaurant for the food, so don’t go about spending on fizzy drinks.
Go for Fixed-Price Menus
Fixed-price menus are extremely popular for all major holidays. So on holidays, it may turn out to be super costly. This means you will end up paying a lot more for the same menu that would cost lesser on regular days. So, instead of eating out on holiday, you could go the day before or the day after. This way, you will be able to avoid the crowd and also your money.
Stick to Your Budget
You don’t want to blow all your monthly savings on dining out? So, skip visiting the restaurant every other day or every weekend. Instead, have a plan on the number of days you will dine out every month. Make sure you stick to this religiously. Having a budget for your restaurant visits will also go a long way in helping you keep your savings safe. Remember, eating out shouldn’t become something that burns a hole in your pocket or leaves a sour taste in you!
You deserve to visit that fancy restaurant that opened in your neighborhood last week. But be smart about it, and it will keep you accountable for every spending, especially when you get those midweek pizza cravings!