How to Afford to Eat Out Part 2

afford-to-eat-outEveryone wants to save money, but it is hard to give up eating out even when the budget is tight. This has led a lot of people to make some changes whenever and wherever they can so they can still go out to eat. Of course, this is good if you are cutting out those things that you really don’t need, like eating out, but most budgets can find a few bucks to still go out to eat once in awhile.

Here are some tips that will help you to be able to afford to eat out:

Check Out Early Bird Specials and Happy Hours

It has been proven that eating out for lunch is less expensive than dinner and breakfast will be even cheaper than lunch. This is why you should always eat out for breakfast or lunch whenever possible when you want to save money and still afford to eat out. Doing this can actually allow you to afford to go to a nicer restaurant than if you were to go out to eat for dinner.

You will also find that a lot of restaurants will offer specials for those who choose to have an early dinner. A lot of times you can actually save as much as $5 per entrée if you are willing to eat dinner before 5:30 P.M. Many bars and cocktail lounges have happy hour specials where they offer complementary or discounted appetizers or hors d’oeuvres to their customers. Generous appetizer servings are often very filling and can be enjoyed instead of something off the dinner menu. This will also allow you to try out a more expensive restaurant than if you went for dinner and eat a little later if an early bird special doesn’t work for you.

Skip The Extras When Going Out to Eat

Whenever you do decide to dine out, make sure to skip the extras like drinks, appetizers and desserts. Alcoholic drinks can push up the cost of eating out really fast. Especially with the current drinking and driving laws, it is often best to enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail after you return home. If you are the type of person who really likes to have something to eat while you are waiting for your dinner, then make sure that you go someplace that offers complimentary starters on your table. For example a lot of Italian restaurants will give you a complimentary order of breadsticks and seasoned olive oil and Mexican restaurants will serve complimentary tortilla chips with salsa while you wait for your meal.

Look For Deals and Coupons

Check out your local newspaper, look in your mailbox, go online, and check out some of the popular dining websites to find out about deals and get coupons. Many of them will have coupons and fliers advertising special dining deals. A common offer that you can find is “buy one get one free”. Go with a friend and then split the bill, it will be like each of you get a half priced meal. Some specials will be posted on signs outside of your favorite restaurants. Daily specials may include a specialty dish discounted certain days of the week or a free kid’s meals whenever an adult entrée is purchased.

Word of Mouth Recommendations

Most cities have no-frills restaurants that few people know about, but are known for their outstanding low priced food. Ask around to find out where the people you know eat to find these types of restaurants.

Regardless of how limited your budget is you can still enjoy dining out if you are willing to make a few changes. At Mama Jennie’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, you can find coupons and specials when you go to MamaJennies.com.

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