Be smart when eating out. It can help you save a lot of your hard-earned cash.
Dining out can be a lot of fun. It gives you the chance to dress up, spend a relaxing time with your family, friends, or significant other, and enjoy great food without having to spend time preparing the meals or cleaning up afterward. No wonder a lot of people enjoy eating out.
However, dining out in restaurants, cafes and bars can be rather expensive ? especially if you fall prey to spending
your hard-earned cash on unreasonably priced menu items.? To avoid being ripped off when eating out, here are some tips you should consider.
Go for water. Avoid non-alcoholic beverages since they can easily add a huge sum to your final bill. Are you willing to pay $2 to $3 for tap water mixed with carbon dioxide and some flavoring? If you are, then go ahead and order your favorite soda. However, if you want to spend your money wisely, stick with plain tap water instead.???
Steer away from clear soups and broths. Some restaurants charge as much as $6 to $7 for a bowl of clear chicken soup garnished with some noodles and carrots. It just isn’t worth the money.
Don’t order wine. According to a news report published in CNN Money, wines at restaurants are the ultimate rip-off since they can cost anywhere from two to three times the retail price.
Mind your portions. If you are dining at a restaurant that serves extremely large portions, consider putting a portion of your food on a separate plate so you can take it home and make another meal out of it.
Say ‘no’ to extras. The cost of appetizers and desserts can cost as much as the main entr?e so if you want to spend your hard-earned cash wisely, consider ditching the extras. You would get more of your money’s worth by ordering a delectable main entr?e and savoring every bite. However, if you are really craving for something sweet for dessert, consider sharing it with others at your table.
Look for great deals online. There are a lot of daily deals sites that offer vouchers for local restaurants so keep an eye on sites such as Amazon Local and Groupon to get some very good deals. Some restaurants also offer great deals and discounts just by becoming a fan and engaging with them on social media.
Look for “kids eat free” promos. If you are taking the whole family out for lunch or dinner, make an effort to learn which restaurants offer “kids eat free” days so you can schedule your family date accordingly.
