How to Eat Out - for Cheap!

With a family of four hungry people, eating out inexpensively has been very difficult for us. We have a small budget for such things and like to make our money stretch, so we've come up with a few ways families can enjoy a night out without breaking the bank.

#1 - If you have younger children, scout out the "kids nights" in your area. Many restaurants offer a buy-one-get-one scheme one night a week, where if you buy an adult meal, you get one or more kids meals for free. They also tend to have fun things to keep the kids occupied while Mom and Dad sneak in a quiet moment!

#2 - Choose your time wisely. If you can eat out at lunch, rather than dinner, you can often get the same exact meal for nearly half price! Also, if you're needing to be out late, call around to find out which restaurants change their menus over after a certain hour - and either go before then, or choose a different restaurant. One popular all-night restaurant has the same menu 24 hours a day - but at 10pm and 1am, they hike the prices up. (A helpful waitress explained that this is to discourage "a certain class of people from hanging around" - my thought was, "Who? Working people? Families who are travelling?" We haven't gone back there since.)

#3 - Ask if you can order off the children's or senior's menu, even if you're neither. Many restaurants simply offer too much food. If you can get by with a smaller portion, explain this your waiter. Most establishments will allow you to order these meals if you ask - even if their stated policy is "Under 12 and over 65".

#4 - Make a meal of appetizers. These days, appetizer portions are large, and varied enough that if you order four appetizers at a "fancy" restaurant, you can make a meal for at least half the price of ordering four meals. Just share them around and enjoy!

#5 - Become a mystery shopper. There are several places where you can sign up to secretly eat at restaurants and report back how you were treated. Most supply at least one free meal as payment (some pay cash, too). Be sure to thoroughly check out any company before you become an independent contractor or employee for this purpose.

#6 - Share a plate. At many eateries, you can order the largest item on the menu, and for just a dollar or two more, share it with another member of your party. Some don't even charge for sharing!

#7 - Order large, and take home. Yes - your initial outlay will be more, but if you really enjoy the food, getting to eat it for lunch or midnight snack for the next two days will be a bonus.

#8 - Use coupons. You can find them in your local newspaper, telephone book, and in many local print sources. You can also purchase books of coupons at fundraisers, find them on small wallet cards at your bank or club, and even print them off the Internet! Be aware that many coupons exclude certain times of day or particular menu items. If you're not sure, ask waitstaff or the manager to clarify their policy before you order.

#9 - This is a biggie: Drink water. Save the soda pop for home. Definitely save the wine or mixed drinks for another time. A friend who manages restaurants told me once that a large soft drink costs the establishment a few cents, and they are able to charge two dollars or more for the drink. The markup on a glass of wine is astronomical, and the cost of mixed drinks is soaring. (Not to mention that if you drink, even a little bit, you should not then drive your family home. Period.)

Well that level of markup is good for them - but not for my pocketbook! There are several advantages to drinking water. Not only is it free, so are refills. You can add lemon or lime to it if you'd like. There are no calories, no carbs, no after-effects - it's perfect.

#10 - Check out the Mom & Pop places. With large chain restaurants, you can walk into any store nationwide and have the exact same experience. You'll also have the same high prices. There are small restaurants in every city and town where neighbors gather to share food and experiences. Some of these places become legendary for their food and character. You can learn a lot about where you live by eating in places filled with local color! You should also check out ethnic restaurants. If you enjoy international foods, many "off the beaten path" restaurants from all nationalities exist to please both the palate and the senses. The best thing with both ethnic restaurants and Mom & Pop diners is they tend to be much cheaper than the larger places. Less overhead, perhaps a few less choices on the menu, but so much more to offer in every way.

If you consistently employ one or more of these tips, your food/entertainment costs will decrease, and your level of enjoyment in eating out will increase. Have fun!