[MamaWrites]

Eating out costs so much, but sometimes it just can't be avoided, or sometimes we just want to go out for a treat.

I was wodnering if anyone could help me with some good tips on saving money when you eat out.

[cec11778]

Ok, so I know I am a little late, but here are some tips that I use.
I am a SAHM of 2 girls and I pinch pennies whenever I can.
1. I usually always have juice boxes in my van. If we get fast food to go, I usually get them a $1 nugget each and then share my fries and then they have a juice box.
2. In a restaurant VERY rarely do they get there own meal, usually it takes me awhile but I pick something that I can share, chances are they are not going to eat much anyway. So I make my husband share too!! ; )
3. When we got to amusement parks (disney, Kings dominion) or even at restaurants i will bring those little individual lemonade packets, the kind that you pour into a bottle of water. I know they are not frugal themselves bnut they really save alot of $$. At many places you get a FREE cup of water and then you can add a little flavor with the lemonade.
4. COUPONS!!! One day I went into Denny's and had FREE kids meals coupons and a bunch more, I went around to all the tables handing out all of my coupons(no exaggeration there!!) I am surprised they didn't ask me to leave or stop! ; ) A few people turned down my coupons!!! I couldn't believe it!!! Crazy people!!
5. After going to a restaurant, especially chik-fila call or email the compnay and let them know your experience, if they were great or awful or whatever, businesses like to hear how they are doing, you may even get special treat for taking your time to let them know what you thought!! ( Chik-fil-a is my FAVORITE!!!)
Ok, I think that is all!! ; )

[twinzplus3]

This is a great question. When the twins were born we quickly realized that with 3 other children I was not going to be able to cook dinner every night. Twins are a two person job and I'm just one little lone mama. So we HAD to give up some other things to order out once a week. Here's what we do to save money on nights when I just can't get dinner together:

1) Similarly to pp, I always have chilled bottled water on hand. I often keep some type of cooler in the car so that refrigerated water can go right in the cooler and stay cool.

2) Rather than eating out, sometimes we pop next door to get microwave food. For the same as a large pie, we can buy dinner for everyone and end up with left overs.

3) I find that ordering take out is often cheaper than eating out. First of all, it's easier to save the leftovers. Secondly, I usually have something on hand to add to it. So if I order pizza, I almost always have salad on hand and sometimes bread too!

4) When we do eat out at a restaurant we just make sure to share the leftovers. Pizzeria Uno is one of our favorite restaurants (actually it just happens to be in our favorite place) and to feed all of us would be about $60. For one meal that seems expensive but if we take home the left overs we find that we can get at least two meals out of it if not more.

5) Like pp said, coupons, and the $1 menu are all great $$$ savers.

[QueenAngie]

When the boys were young and we were stretching money:
we'd buy happy meals or only hamburgers & they'd play at McD's in the play area.

Or we'd use a coupon and go to Chuckie Cheese for a cheese pizza, some tokens, and free water.
Hand out the tokens 1 at a time to each child....they last longer.

Or go to Hardee's for a couple of happy meals or just hamburgers.
Free baby ice cream cones for dessert.
They also formerly had $1 Happy Meals, but no toys were given.
I don't know if they still do that.

Or as stated above, go eat out on Tuesdays when some restaurants
offer free kid meals.


Or McD's, purchase their coupons for holidays like Valentine's Day or Halloween.
Get 8 - 12 coupons for $1.00 for free items
like fries, or a hamburger, or a free dessert.
Those really are a $$$$ saver.

On vacation, when we are eating out quite a lot, my restaurant rule is
water or milk or juice.....no soda pop.
We have plenty of pop on vacation that I bring along in cans.
Rather than spending $2.00 for a glass of Coke x 4 people = $8.00 + tax added to each meal.

KFC has that bucket of chicken plus extras for about $4.00 per person in the family.
Ask for plates, plastic utensils, jelly for the biscuits = free.
Take to the park and you ahve an instant lovely picnic.

I have had teenaged, 'bottomless pits' boys for quite a long time now.
They get filled-up the most at buffet places on vacation.

[MissyChrissy]

Dennys. Now, only Sydney gets a free dinner, but every Tuesday & now Saturday kids up to 10 eat from the children's menu free.

We went on Thursday night (had to pay for us all) and even Conner got a little plate of potatoes & gravy (which he loved by the way) and it only cost $33 for all 6 of us. We didn't leave hungry either. I thought that was a great deal.

[diana1096]

We always eat at buffet's. My husband eats enough for 3 people so this saves us tons. We also eat alot of pizza from CiCi's. For all of us it's less than $17.00 W/ Drinks. I think it's like $3.99 per person.
Otherwise we use coupons or eat off the dollar menu.
We also eat outside alot.
It saves from getting bored inside plus the kids can run around afterwards.
Our neighbors think were crazy but hey when your saving those pennies it's worth it.

[pattiewrites]

For the little ones, we get one kids meal and split it between them. Restaurants often give way too much food for one small child to eat.

[quagmire8]

we dont have kids, but my DH and i usually split a meal at a restaurant. if we are really hungry we get an appetizer and a meal and split that. also, on the rare occasion that we eat at a mcdonalds/burger king i get a kids meal. you get a drink, fries, and a burger and it isnt nearly the calories that a regular meal deal has (i save the toys in a toy box that i keep for kids that come over to visit!)

[swt1899]

We live off of those "Entertainment coupon books" Kids sell them for fundraisers. They are customized to your area and have tons of coupons fo many restaurants... and grocery coupons. We love them! Also if you have kids, call around to restaurants and find out when they offer 'kids eat for free' nights. Very much worth the research!

[MamaWrites]

Wow such great ideas!
Quagmire, have you checked out the dollar menu? Sometimes it is cheaper to order things there instead of those Happy Meals.