Restaurant Savings

We have a mobile lifestyle which requires a lot of travel throughout the year. We try to pack our meals, but sometimes our lifestyle requires us to eat out. Eating out for a family of 3 with a teenage boy usually means spending about $100 per meal.

How can we decrease our out-of-pocket expenses?

The first thing we do is to eliminate the beverage costs. If we order water with or without lemon, there is no additional cost. However, if we order any beverage the cost is between $3.50 and $10.00 per drink. Yes, my son did order a $10.00 milkshake once.

The second thing we do is check out their specials. Typically, we receive this information via their loyalty program. If we do go out without checking out the specials in advance, they are normally either listed on a board or the waitress/waiter shares them with us. We do not always go for the cheapest item on the menu, but we do look for value in our meals. In addition, our local wings joint has a BOGO every Thursday and our Kroger has fresh-made sushi on sale every Wednesday. We take this into account when we are unable to cook.

Since restaurant portions are much larger than a person should eat in one setting, we divide the meal and take half of it home. Alternatively, we will share one meal between the two of us. At many restaurants, there is a plate fee associated with sharing a meal, but it is usually minimal.

Finally, we skip dessert. Desserts run from $7.00- $15.00 each, so this is a great way to keep the cost down. However, when dessert is included in the price of the meal or we get it for free because of a special event such as your birthday, we go for it. We only get one and we share it. If no deal is to be had, we pick up a ½ gallon of ice cream on the way home and enjoy.

Do you have any other tips or tricks to share when eating out?

Comments

Menu Planning: #245

NOTE- 1- Click on the picture and get a link to a post sharing the recipe. 2- Although all prices were correct at the time of the blog postings, the current cost of preparation of these dishes may be higher due to inflation and/or location. March USDA Thrifty Food Plan ccording to this plan our family would have a budget of $186.20 per week. Given our health concerns, we struggle to maintain this budget, but I am going to try to make this happen. Cost Saving Tip of the Week: Check your sale flyers for loss leaders. Each week grocery stores advertise specific products at a great price to get you in the store. Recently, I have noticed a very specific time frame for getting these deals. Good luck and happy hunting. Here is what we did this week to make our week easier: Refrigerator Clean Out Pre-cut all vegetables for the week Pulled older items to the front for easier consumption C...

Menu Planning: #250

NOTE- 1- Click on the picture and get a link to a post sharing the recipe. 2- Although all prices were correct at the time of the blog postings, the current cost of preparation of these dishes may be higher due to inflation and/or location. March USDA Thrifty Food Plan According to this plan our family would have a budget of $186.20 per week. Given our health concerns, we struggle to maintain this budget, but I am going to try to make this happen. Cost Saving Tip of the Week: When I purchase fruit for the week, it helps to calculate the cost per serving vs. the cost in general. For example, this week a whole watermelon was on sale for $3.99 each. When it is cut up, the watermelon will yield at least 20 servings which will place the cost per serving at $0.20. Here is what we did this week to make our week easier: Breakfast Options: Hard Boiled Eggs Yogurt Homemade Breakfast ba...

Menu Plan #307

Menu Plan #307 NOTE- 1- Click on the picture and get a link to a post sharing the recipe. 2- Although all prices were correct at the time of the blog postings, the current cost of preparation of these dishes may be higher due to inflation and location. February 2025 USDA Thrifty Food Plan According to this plan, our family would have a budget of $189.30 per week. Since March has 4 weeks, our monthly budget is $757.20. We elevate our dining experiences by including fresh fruits, vegetables, and higher-quality meats. Since we have health concerns and are active individuals, we limit our processed food choices. Grocery Shopping Tip: Utilize your grocery store’s loyalty program. This month, my 2 primary grocery stores have provided me with store coupons for bread, Silk milk, jelly candy, frozen vegetables, and Bali coconut water. Here is what we did this week to make our week easier: ...

The Sweet Life On A Budget

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