One of my major money pitfalls has always been eating out. It’s the monkey on my back. Anytime the subject of what to do next comes up, my answer is always the same: EAT!!! We all have heard by now how those little meals and fancy drinks can add up, not to mention now there is a boutique eatery for almost everything; those small dollars spent add up.
I could never bring myself to tell anyone to forgo the occasional ice cream, cupcake or even tapas, what I can do is offer some ways to save money while doing so!
Scoutmob– This was a favorite of ours when my husband and I were dating. Scoutmob is an app you can download in your app store that will show you great deals on local restaurants. It will filter your choices by area, budget and food style. I particularly love Scoutmob because it feature small restaurants and diverse food choices and I love trying new things. Scoutmob is a great app for couples looking for a day out on the town, but their deals are not suitable for groups. When using a coupon, check the exceptions. Some are only valid during certain days and hours. Most of the deals are equivalent to a free meal. This app is free and so are the discounts.
Kids Eat Free Nights– Most family style restaurants will have “kids eat free” nights. The age on these are usually 12 and under and the menu items may be restricted to the kiddie meals. Most local places can be found by googling your city and kids eat free.
Loyalty– Customer loyalty programs are everywhere these days. Even smaller restaurants have a punch card system that rewards you for frequency. When you sign up for these, (usually via the company website) you can earn free appetizers, drinks or desserts for your birthday. Each company is different, so be sure to check the specifications.
Entertainment books– At different points in the year, your local school or organization may sell entertainment books to help fundraise. I love these! They are full of coupons and discounts from local business. The books themselves run around $20 (depending on the selling organization) but can pay for themselves with the first two uses.
Google– Don’t forget to always Google a place you are considering, to see if they are running specials. Most staff are really busy and may forget to mention the specials.
Let me know how you have enjoyed these tips! Next time, we’ll talk about saving money while doing car repairs… this is a big one especially for my single ladies! Until next time.
