Save Money Eating Out at Restaurants - 10 Best Tips

If you're like most Americans, your life is getting busier and busier and you're eating out more. However, eating out can be a huge money pit, sucking thousands of dollars a year from your budget. The following are top 10 tips for eating out without breaking your budget.

Money Saving Tip #1 for Eating Out on a Budget: Order an Appetizer

Restaurant appetizers have been growing in size, not just popularity. If you're not very hungry, order an appetizer instead of an entrée and save as much as half the cost of eating out.

Money Saving Tip #2 for Eating Out on a Budget: Share an Entrée with Your Partner

In recent years restaurant entrées have also grown. If dining with a partner, try sharing an entrée, adding a salad or an appetizer if you're a bit hungrier. Note however that some restaurants charge a few dollars for splitting an entrée.

Money Saving Tip #3 for Eating Out on a Budget: Box Up your Restaurant Leftovers

Don't feel you have to finish everything on your plate when eating out. If a restaurant serves enough to feed a small village, don't be bashful and ask them to box up your leftovers. You can enjoy those for lunch the next day. This will not only save you money, it's also healthier given the number of calories typical restaurant fare packs.

Money Saving Tip #4 for Eating Out on a Budget: Drink Water

Restaurants pay less than $0.10 a glass for sodas. Yet many restaurants charge $2.00 or more for that soda. With no free refills, juices and alcoholic beverages are even more of a cash cow for restaurants. Drinking these on occasion is ok, but for the most part stick with water. It's better for both you and your wallet.

Money Saving Tip #5 for Eating Out on a Budget: Skip Deserts

Many restaurants use lower entrée prices as a come-on, making their real profit on deserts. Indeed, desert prices at some restaurants are flirting with the $10 mark - enough to pay for an entrée at lower cost restaurants. Skip desert while eating out and save a bundle. If your sweet tooth is acting up, have some ice cream at home, or if you find an intriguing restaurant desert, share it with your partner.

Money Saving Tip #6 for Eating Out on a Budget: Use Coupons

Local newspapers and coupon publications are full of coupons for local restaurants. When eating out, such publications can give you ideas where to go while saving 10 to 40% of your restaurant check.

Money Saving Tip #7 for Eating Out on a Budget: Find New Restaurants

Newer non-chain restaurants frequently charge less before becoming widely known. Eating out at such restaurants can save you money while serving up more interesting meals.

Money Saving Tip #8 for Eating Out on a Budget: Lunch Out

Restaurant lunch menus are usually much less expensive than dinners, and the smaller portions are healthier too. If your schedule allows, consider eating out lunch.

Money Saving Tip #9 for Eating Out on a Budget: Order Carry-Out

More than 1/8 the cost of a restaurant meal is due to the service charge, or tip. Calling ahead to order carry-out will save you that cost while avoiding waiting in line at popular restaurants. Strictly speaking this is not eating out, but still saves you the time and effort of cooking.

Money Saving Tip #10 for Eating Out on a Budget: Take Advantage of Restaurant Week Events

Many cities offer "Restaurant Week" events (see resource box for sample links) during which some of the fanciest restaurants in town offer significantly reduced prices. This can be a great way of eating out at some of the best restaurants without paying the $50 or more per person typical there.

Bottom Line of Saving Money while Eating Out

Try newer restaurants, take advantage of coupons and Restaurant Week events, share dishes with your partner, and as much as you can, avoid appetizers, drinks and deserts - that's where restaurants make their profit, and where you pay the most for the least. If you use these tips, your eating out is less likely to devour your budget.