Friday, January 15, 2010

going out to eat? plan ahead, save money....

People go out to eat for many different reasons….to try something new, for some social interaction, because they are too busy or too tired to cook. Planning ahead only takes a few minutes of your time, and you can still enjoy a decent meal without breaking the bank.

You can purchase coupon books specific to your city on www.entertainment.com these coupons usually give you buy one meal get one free. or you can purchase discount coupons at websites like www.restaurant.com the coupon or gift card usually costs 40% of the total value.

Depending on where you live many restaurants offer happy hour or reverse happy hour with half off specials.

No matter where you decide to go always preview the menu on line to determine before you arrive what you will order. When you get to the restaurant you won’t even need a menu. This will help eliminate impulse purchases or appetizer purchases to tide you over until your meal arrives. And finally, the less time you spend in the restaurant the fewer pricey adult beverages you will be likely to purchase.

2 comments:

  1. Many restaurants allow you to bring your own bottle of wine for an average corkage fee of $10.00 - $15.00. This is a good way to enjoy your adult beverages without breaking the budget. I call the restaurant ahead of time and ask if they allow outside beverages and the corkage fee. Depending on the occasion, it may be the most important feature when selecting a restaurant. ;)

    Cheers!

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  2. Veronica, thanks for the suggestion! That is such a great idea, and one I have never thought of! We went out to eat for our 5th anniversary and paid $40 for a bottle of wine. I was surprised to find it at target a few days later for $10! If they had allowed me to bring my own for a $10 cork fee I would have saved $20!!

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