10 Ways to Eat Out on a Budget

Who doesn’t enjoy eating out? American’s most popular form of socializing is going out to eat or drink with friends. However, it can be much more difficult to maintain a social life that revolves around dining out when you are on a tight budget.

As a working college student, I’ve ran into this issue many times. Lucky for you, I’ve also compiled a list of ways to join your friends at your favorite restaurants without sacrificing your every last penny. Work these outings with friends into your budget using these 10 money-saving tips!

Top 10 Penny Pinching Tips

1. Go out earlier

If you go out earlier you can get happy hour pricing on both drinks and food at most places. My favorite happy hour is at Yaya’s Euro Bistro located in Chesterfield. Yaya’s offers happy hour Monday through Friday from 4pm-6:30pm. Their happy hour consists of two for one starters as well as reduced priced drinks.

2. Use your email

Look up restaurants websites in order to sign up for coupons and email alerts. Most places offer regular discounts for their loyal customers as well as birthday coupons.

3. Go to lunch instead of dinner

Not only does lunch offer cheaper priced plates, but you can also typically add on a soup or salad for a reduced price.

4. Go on your birthday

If you know where you want to go for your birthday dinner already, go to their website ASAP and sign up for their rewards system. Typically, these email programs will ask for your birthday and send you a coupon for a discount of free dessert. My favorite restaurant to go to on my birthday is Stoney River,also located in Chesterfield, their Szechuan salmon is the best I’ve ever had and they offer free dessert on your birthday!

5. Skip the drinks

Restaurants profit the most off of your drink order. If you order a water instead of tea or soda, you easily save around $3.00. Even better, if you can skip the alcoholic beverage, you save around $10.00 on average.

6. Share a plate

Portion sizes at most restaurants, especially Italian restaurants, are much larger than the amount an average person could eat in one sitting. You are better off getting one entrée and a salad and splitting them both with a friend.

7. Go on Monday or Tuesday

Earlier in the week is typically a slower time for restaurants, so they will offer special pricing to entice more customers to come in. The best deals during the week are at Circle 7 Ranch in Ballwin or Des Peres. You can find their specials written on the large chalk board inside the restaurant or posted to their FaceBook page!

8. Watch the sports game at home

Going out to watch a game usually means that you will mindlessly eat and drink for hours on end just because everyone loves to eat while they watch TV. Opt for making snacks at home and inviting some friends over instead.

9. Order carryout

In addition to watching the game at home, you could also order carry-out if you aren’t the cooking type. Some places offer special carry-out deals, but either way you will save a couple bucks by tipping the take-out person a few dollars instead of the full 20%. As a server who wraps up to-go orders, I can truly say we are happy with a $3.00 tip on take out, we really do not expect 20% unless it is a really large order.

10. Get cash back

Personally, I use my cash back Discover card to get anywhere from 1% to 5% money back on all of my food purchases. I like to think of it like getting paid to go eat, probably not the smartest logic, but works for me.

If you decide to try any of these tips, shoot me a message and let me know how it worked and how much money you were able to save! Share this post with a friend or save it for future reference, it is a real game changer.