Grocery Coupons Tips: January 2012
Keywords: save at restaurants, restaurant savings, discounts, combo meals, restaurant coupons, special savings
Eating out at restaurants can be a quite a pricey habit or an economical one, depending on your level of expertise in the bargaining department. In an economy as annoyingly dismal and bleak as this one is, why spend any more money than you absolutely need to?
Keep the following tips in mind the next time you’ve decided to be wined and dined.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, GET HAPPY: Seriously, have you ever studied happy-hour menus where you live? Even if you don’t drink, it still can be worth it to do a little leg-work and find the best happy hours in your area. Many of them offer highly discounted drinks and food specials — even at really swanky places with fantastic views. Why not go there the right time of day and spend $5, instead of the hundreds you might spend eating dinner during the peak dinner rush? In addition to happy-hour deals, many restaurants offer special deals that are listed right on the menus they offer, and it never hurts to ask about them before you place your order, just to get clarity. (The worst they can tell you is “no”, right?) You typically can find the best deals Monday through Thursday.
CALL AHEAD OF TIME TO SEEK DISCOUNTS: Children and senior citizens almost always qualify for tremendous deals at restaurants. Remember to seek out special sections for children or seniors on the menu as well, and also find out whether the restaurant offers special price deals or free meals for kids on certain nights of the week. Also, remember that many restaurants offer early-bird specials for people who show up while the night is still young, typically from 4 to 6 p.m. These menus can really come in handy and help you avoid big dinner bills when you’re vacationing as a family.
PRETEND YOU’R A TOURIST: Another great place for finding coupons that can be truly mind-blowing is your local visitors’ bureau. Swing by and pick up publications packed with special discounts and coupons for tourists. Locals can always take advantage of these deals, but never think to take advantage of them.
IF YOU SIMPLY WANT TO GO OUT ON THE TOWN: You can have a blast at one or more great restaurants without actually ordering dinner anywhere. You could order coffee or a drink and an appetizer or dessert at one or more expensive cafès or restaurants or dark, romantic bistros. This is a surefire way to have a fun night out and still savor the atmosphere without emptying your wallet. Finding a restaurant that can save you a lot of money is easy when you use our Restaurant Finder.
ORDER A GLASS OF WATER WITH YOUR MEAL AND SAVE A BUNDLE: It’s one of the healthiest drinks you can opt for, and you can always ask to have a twist of lemon or a slice of cucumber added for free (it makes all the difference!). If you want a drink-drink, just plan to have a nightcap at home for pennies on the dollar — literally.
GO OUT FOR LUNCH INSTEAD OF DINNER: The same meal can cost HALF on the lunch menu than at dinnertime. If you’re on a budget but still want to go out, make a lunch date with a friend. Depending on what you order, you can bring your leftovers home and have dinner that night and/or lunch for the next day.
CHECK OUT THE COMBO MEALS: Combination meals usually cost less than several a la carte items, even at fast-food restaurants. Even so, do the math first to make sure you’re really getting the best all around deal.
VISIT A NEW RESTAURANT: New restaurant owners and wait staff are usually eager to provide quality service and special deals at decent prices so they can develop a base of steady customers. Get in early and eat and be treated like kings.
At Grocery Coupons, our goal is to help you save money every day. We offer grocery coupons, grocery savings, grocery deals, grocery discounts, promo codes, and thousands of great ways to help you save. We also offer grocery coupons resources, like this article, to help you find great family savings.
