Everyone loves to take a break from cooking and indulge in a fast meal from time to time. Although it might not be cost effective to do it all the time, every once in awhile it is a great way to change up the schedule and lift your spirits. Of course, sometimes you have to eat out due to traveling, working late or family emergencies. You shouldn’t have to stress out about eating out though. With these simple tips you can enjoy a nice meal without having to spend a lot or settle for the dollar menu. These tips will help you experience some of the best local foods in your home town as you will not longer have to stress out about how much you are going to be billed!

1. Drink Water
It is pretty tempting to order tea and sodas when you eat out, especially if you are going out as a treat. This can add a huge amount to your bill though. Many restaurants will charge you around five dollars per drink and many don’t offer free refills. A specialty drink or alcoholic drink can be much pricier. Some of these drinks even cost as much as a meal, which will double up your bill per person fairly quickly. Most of these drinks don’t come with free refills either, so if you drink more than one during your meal then you will quickly reach the hundred dollar bill mark. If you really want to go cheap when you eat then order water. Most restaurants will serve you iced water for free so you won’t have to keep adding on to your bill. This is especially important for places that serve more expensive meals.

2. Discount Gift Cards
There a lot of websites that are offering gift cards at a much cheaper price than they are worth. This is a great way to enjoy a meal without having to pay full price for it. For instance, many gift card stores will allow you to purchase a $25 gift card for only $10. This means you will have $15 you won’t have to worry about coming out of pocket when you eat out. If you purchase one of these gift cards when you have a little extra cash then you enjoy a nicer restaurant without having to spend money that is in your bank account. This is a great way to save up for birthdays and other special occasions. You can also purchase slightly used gift cards for a lot less. Many sites sell gift cards that still have money on them, which will benefit you greatly since they won’t charge you for the full amount of the card. Often enough you can grab a $50 gift card for half the price!

3. Skip Dinner
Dinner is one of the most expensive meals when it comes to eating out. If you can try to break for a later lunch because this will actually save you a lot of money. Lunch menus might not be as vast as dinner menus, but you will find that they can be just as filling for a few dollars less. Lunch usually last til about 3 in the afternoon, so if you can catch the late lunch rush then you might be full enough to skip out on dinner completely. Although lunch portions often aren’t as large as dinners, you might find a restaurant that serves you a little too much for your lunch appetite. This will allow you to take home the leftovers to enjoy for dinner, which will mean you will get two meals for one lower price. Of course, if you really want to be frugal then just go out for breakfast. A lot of restaurants have plenty of meals that will cost you less then $5 for breakfast.

4. Share a Dish
If you’re going out to eat with a friend or a date then you might want to consider sharing a dish. A lot of dinner dishes will come with so much food that it could easily feed two people with extra to take home for leftovers. The major thing is to be choosey with your meal. Try to pick something that is going to be filling like a pizza or pasta dish. You can also go for the two dishes for a certain price deal. If you do this then you won’t spend more than twenty dollars for a meal fit for two. If you have a family to feed then you can still utilize the same system if everyone can agree on a meal. If you have problems choosing then order two or three different meals so that can everyone can eat a little off of each dish. This won’t cost you as much as ordering each person a different dish, but will still have everyone leaving the restaurant full.

5. Timing is Everything
Restaurants have a lot of down periods and many try to entice people to come in by lowering the prices or offering great deals. If you go to a restaurant during the middle of the week you are more than likely going to get some amazing deals that you definitely wouldn’t on the weekend. The middle of the weeks tends to see less guest, so its easy for places to give away reduced priced or free desserts as well as amazing specials. You might want to also try to go out before six o’clock. A lot of places will offer an early bird special that will make dining out fully worth it. These specials usually provide you with good portions of food for a lot less than you would ever expect. Planning during these times will also leave you feeling more relaxed during your meal because the restaurant will be a lot less crowded and a lot quieter.

6. The Bar
If you don’t have the kids with you or are simply eating alone then you might want to ask to be seated at the bar. The bar is generally a bit more crowded, but it does offer you access to a smaller and cheaper menu that might suit your budget more than larger portioned dishes. Sitting at the bar will also make the specials more clear and might even make the service a little bit faster than normal. Of course, there is also happy hour that can really help you save a lot of money if you plan on having an alcoholic drink. However, a lot of places will include regular fountain drinks as well as appetizers into the happy hour so make sure to ask before you’re seated.

7. Online Coupon Deals
One of the best things about the internet is you can find coupons for just about any establishment. Sometimes you might even get luck and find a groupon that will help you and your friends enjoy a night on the town at a fraction of the original price. Coupons are fairly simple to find online and a lot of the more popular franchises will offer you freebies as well as half off coupons that can make your dining experience so much cheaper. Of course, if your planning on having a spontaneous meal out then you might want to look into downloading a few coupon apps. These apps can really help you save money on the go and generally don’t cost anything to download.

8. Utilize Social Media
You might not realize it, but social media sites can get your more discounts than the occasional coupon. For example, a lot of restaurants will actually keep track of the people that check in at their location on social media pages. These people will often receive freebies, discounts or coupons that will help them with their bill. Restaurants love when you help promote them, so don’t be afraid to let everyone know where you’re eating. If you really love a restaurant then don’t be shy when it comes to supporting them on their social media page. A lot of restaurants will offer people who like their page or follow them, depending on the site, a lot of special offers that other customers aren’t privy to. This can be a great way to pick up a discount or try something new on the menu for less.

9. Special Occasions
One way to really bring on the savings is to go out on special occasions. A lot of restaurants offer deals on major holidays, such as Veteran’s Day. If you show up dressed in your uniform a lot of places will offer the meal to you for free or for a discounted price. This is a great way for restaurants to show their appreciation for those to serves and a great way for veterans to be rewarded for their service. Of course, Mother’s and Father’s Day are not to be forgotten in this list of special occasions. Many places will offer specials on these days and you might even get a free dessert. Going out on your birthday might also be a great idea. Not only will you have a blast with friends and family, but a lot of restaurants will offer you a cheerful song and a free piece of cake! Some places might even offer a discount on major holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas because their service will be slow on these nights. The key is to call and ask around to see what specials are going on, but if you plan carefully you can enjoy some great deals all year.

10. Surveys
Many restaurants will offer you surveys on your receipt or through your email subscription with them. Often, if you complete these surveys they will offer you a free menu item or a discount on your purchase. This is becoming increasing popular on with many fast food chains that want to improve their service while also promoting return business. So, every time you go out make sure you check your receipt for a survey. Most cashiers will point this out to you to make it easier for you to find though. There are also many online surveys that offer you free food or gift certificates for filling them out. Most of them don’t take long to do and can really add up if you do the surveys frequently.

Eating out can be an incredible experience that spices up life and helps up break out the work routine. Of course, paying a lot for it won’t make life any better. With these ten tips you can take advantage of discounts so you can enjoy the food you are eating without having to worry about the bill that follows. Now, you can try all those restaurants you’ve been wanting to without having to feel guilty about the money you’re spending.

Author: Chelsey McQuitty