Sometimes you just need to get out to eat, but doing so doesn’t mean you need to spend an arm and a leg. There are a lot of things that you can do to reduce the cost of eating out so that doing so doesn’t break your budget. By taking a little time to leans some of the ticks that can greatly reduce the cost of eating out, you can reduce your bill by 50% or more. So the next time you decide to go out for a bite, be sure that you don’t pay full retail price for your meal.
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Go With Water
Photo Credit: Lindsey Turner
When you go out to eat, one of the easiest ways to save is to drink water with your meal instead of ordering a soft drink or other drink from the menu. Water is free and you can ask for a lemon or lime twist if you want to add a little flavor to it. Since drinks are often one of the highest marked up items on the restaurant menu, simple doing this can significantly reduce the total restaurant bill.
Skip Dessert
Photo Credit: Puck Goodfellow
Dessert is one of the items at restaurants that usually come with prices that are quite high for what you're getting. Instead of getting dessert at the restaurant, make your own dessert when you get home. For the price of a single serving at the restaurant, you should be able to let the whole family have a sweet snack at home.
Split A Meal
Photo Credit: Health.com
Meals in many restaurants are much bigger than the average person should be consuming. Instead of buying two meals that neither person can finish, instead buy a single meal and split it between the two of you. You still should leave with your tummy full and only have to pay half the price.