The Real Cost Of Eating Out
As paychecks wither in this economy, it may comes as a surprise that the simple act of eating out can cost you $2000 a year. Unfortunately, people who work outside the home have to factor in the occasional coffee, and the daily lunch costs, and many times that can significantly impact their budget, too, especially if they’re only working part time jobs. Add to that birthdays, holidays, and just the urge to eat out every now and then, and the costs of eating out quickly take a huge chunk out of what’s left of your disposable income. If you’re looking for somewhere to save big this year, consider some of these strategies to rein in those dollar munchies.
If You Must Eat Out
First off, not all ways of saving money eating out start with your own home cooking. You can save money at a restaurant by ordering a large dish and splitting it between two people at really expensive restaurants. You can also save money by using only half for one meal, and saving the rest for another meal later. Many dishes are so large, this is very easily done. Or, you can choose less expensive food establishments, and make use of their specials the same way. A $5 foot long at Subway for instance, is the perfect example. If you use half for lunch, and half the following day or for dinner, each meal only cost you $2.50 plus tax.
Other ways to save money at a restaurant are to avoid ordering alcoholic beverages, or any beverage at all for that matter. Tap water is perfectly fine for most meals. If you want something fancier, ask for ice water with lemon. Avoid appetizers and desserts, or substitute one of these dishes for the entire meal.
A great way to get discounts on meals is to go online and check out coupons that they may be offering. Restaurant.com will often have specials where you can get a coupon to a restaurant for a $25 to $35 meal for $5 to $10 bucks. You do have to be careful to check the terms of the coupon as you may not be able to redeem it at certain times, or you may have to order a large amount of food to get the coupon off. However, if you want to try new restaurants in your local area, it can be a way to save money and discover new venues for that special occasion.
Use Your Own Coffee
You can buy and brew your own coffee at home on a timer. Pack it up in a thermos before you go, and you won’t ever have to stop at Starbucks again. If you miss spending those five bucks, why not take the five dollars and add them to a cookie jar on your counter. By the end of the week, figure out if you want to save it, invest it, spend it, or donate the money to someone in more need than you.
Bag Your Own Lunch
Not a popular way to do lunch, but certainly cost effective. Sandwiches are easy lunch fare to put together. Drinks can be bought with you and stored in your office desk. Use up leftovers and reheat them in the office microwave. Get healthy and pack some salads to eat later. As long as you have access to a refrigerator and a microwave at your office, it’s perfectly doable.
Have A Small Celebration At Home
Birthday parties don’t have to be done at restaurants, although it’s nice. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, you can pare down the celebrations, by having a smaller get together at home. Now’s the time to learn how to make your kid’s favorite cake from scratch. Similarly, desserts don’t have to always be bought. Buying a family pack of brownies from the bakery can cost $3 to $6 at the grocery store. However, a family pack of mix will cost you less than $2 and all you have to do is add eggs and oil in one bowl, mix, and bake it yourself.
Throw Potlucks For The Holidays
Instead of meeting at a restaurant, throw family potlucks for the holidays. It’s not only fun to see what recipes others in your family have discovered, but it’s also a time to celebrate family food traditions. Mexicans, for instance, love to make tamales from scratch near the Christmas holidays, and it’s a way to celebrate the family heritage while reducing the cost of eating out during cost-intensive times like the holidays.
This entry was posted on Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 10:00 am and is filed under Saving Money. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
