Here are some helpful tips that will help you avoid spending a fortune the next time you go out for a meal.
Going out for a meal at a fine restaurant can be a very enjoyable experience, as you will get to sit back and relax as delicious food is prepared for you while savouring good conversation in an atmospheric setting. It’s great to go out for a meal as a treat now and then, however dining out can be very expensive!
Remember these tips next time you are eating out at a restaurant and you can save yourself from a big shock when the bill arrives:
- Use restaurant coupons. There are many daily deal websites such as Groupon and Living Social that offer discount coupons for local restaurants in your area. Sometimes you can get as much as 50% off for your next restaurant meal.
- Look out for restaurant related promotions. For instance Ulster Bank offer 25% off at a range of restaurants for customers with their current accounts.
- Join a loyalty program at your favourite restaurant. Some dining establishments will let you sign up to their loyalty program for free and will offer bonuses like a free meal on your birthday or cash back for eating out.
- You can save money depending on when you decide to eat out. Dining out for lunch is almost always cheaper than eating an evening meal and the quality of the food and the portions are usually around the same. Some restaurants will also offer an early bird special if you have dinner before 6pm.
- There are also often mid week specials at some restaurants, so if you can avoid the weekends this can be another way to save.
- Although the dessert menu can be tempting, opting for a sweet treat after the meal can add a lot of extra money to the bill. Instead, buy some ice cream and cake at the supermarket and enjoy your dessert when you get home for a fraction of the price.
- If you must have the dessert at the restaurant, just order one portion with two spoons for sharing. Your wallet will thank you, and so will your waistline!
- Coffee and tea after the meal is another addition that you can treat yourself to when you get home for much cheaper.
- The portion sizes at most restaurants are so large that you can usually get away with splitting one entree between two people. If you are still hungry you can order an appetizer or a side dish as well. If you choose to do this, it is polite to tip your server as if you had ordered two entrees.
- You can save a lot of money by having a glass of wine at home before you go out to eat, because alcoholic drinks have a huge mark up in restaurants and can amount to most of the bill. If you must drink with your meal, look for a restaurant with drink specials or a Happy Hour and order wine by the bottle instead of the glass to save.
These are just a few ways that you can enjoy the experience of eating out for less!
Image: Flickr/nedoho
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