Dining out is one of life’s simple pleasures. It is often seen as a delicious treat to get away from the hustle and bustle of our work and bond with friends and loved ones. Unfortunately, it is also one of the first luxuries to get nixed when we go on a budget and start cutting back on extras.
But what if you could still enjoy an evening at a restaurant for the same cost as eating at home? That’s what we tackle in our article as we take a look at the smart ways to dine out and stay on your budget.
Where to Eat
One of the very first considerations you will have to take into account is that of your restaurant of choice. The safest (at least budget-wise) and, of course, the most affordable options are the fast food joints that are found on almost every corner. Health-wise, these are a bad choice. We are trying to save money, not destroy our health.
For very little additional money, we can go to a bistro, café, or grill restaurant that provide much better nutrition and taste for the buck. Look beyond their menu prices and check if the restaurant has a free kids buffet, special promos and discounts for specific days of the week, or a printable online coupon for a free appetizer or 2 for 1 entree. This can easily make the costs equivalent or better than a meal at home, or cheap fast food.
What to Order
Once seated, immediately scan their available appetizers and entrees. A great tip to trim down your bill is to order two sets of appetizers instead of a more expensive entrée. Additionally, you can reduce your hunger pangs by chomping on their free bread or soup before pouncing on your main course. This makes it much easier to split a tab between you and a friend, as most restaurants today serve incredibly large servings that can feed two or even three people, depending on the appetite.
Desserts will also cost you dearly. If after a meal, you still have a craving for something sweet, why not just stop by a local ice cream shop which is much cheaper yet still equally satisfying.
When to Eat Out
For some, eating out is therapeutic. If you have a terrible meeting at work and feel like eating out to lighten your mood, then choose to do it at lunch rather than at dinner time when menu prices go up. Bistros and cafes work hard to earn your afternoon traffic which is why their lunch specials are priced much lower than their dinner entrees. But if dinner is the only free time you have to go out and eat, then make sure to surf the net and search for discounts like the Sonny’s Barbecue coupons mentioned at Bluwiki.com to drastically reduce your final bill.
What to Drink
Instead of ordering pricey fruit juices, wines, or soda, why not opt for water instead. Not only is it free but it also does not have any fattening sugar that can put on the extra pounds. This small change can save you $2 to $10 a meal, which quickly translates into some serious cash over the span of several months.
Time your dining right, order the your meals smartly, research for discounts, and cut out the unnecessary extras to make your trip to the restaurant fit in just fine with your budget plans. As you can see, it is possible to give yourself a night off from cooking and a little luxury for a similar cost of eating at home or a quick bite at a fast food joint. Don’t settle for less when good food in a relaxing atmosphere is within your reach.