We all love enjoying going for a meal out, however it can become a very expensive hobby, unless you are savvy about it.
We all need to eat to live, however, a lot of us live to eat! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying a home cooked meal, but sometimes it feels like food tastes better when you’re not the one making it.
The only downside can sometimes be the cost of dining out, especially with the rising costs of living for everything else. But don’t fret, we’ve come up with 14 tips and tricks to help you save money on eating out at restaurants. You’re welcome!
1) Opt for a Lunch Date Instead
Who says a date can’t be for lunch instead?
A lunch date on a weekday can be considerably cheaper as you’re likely to find the majority of restaurants have daytime deals on offer which expire after 7pm. You’ll be able to take advantage of their special offer menus which means there’s more cash to treat yourself to dessert!
2) Look for 2-4-1 Offers
Who doesn’t love a 2-4-1 bargain?! Most restaurants have this deal available, mostly during weekdays and daytime opening hours where you can get two meals for the price of one from a selection from the menu.
So if you and a friend or you and your partner are on a tight budget, you can basically split the cost of one meal but still have a full meal each!
3) Check Online for Discount Codes
The best way to save money on eating out is to check online for discount codes. You can find some amazing deals on our website, on numerous social media channels, newsletters etc.
Why not sign up for email alerts and deals from your favourite restaurants? The next time you’re looking to eat out, have a look in your emails and see what great deals and codes are available, you’ll be surprised how much you can save.
4) See If Kids Go Free
Before you visit a restaurant, or make that online booking, take a look at the menu to see whether kids can eat for free, or whether there is at least a child’s menu.
There’s nothing more frustrating than taking your child to a restaurant and having to pay full price for a meal and them sitting there picking at it and not really eating it.
There are plenty of restaurants that offer menus aimed specifically at children, there are even some that offer free meals for children under 12! Just take a look online. It’s also a great idea to let your child have a look at the menu before you go just to be sure that your evening will go smoothly!
5) Take Advantage of Birthday Discounts
Remember when you were a kid and you would get a free meal at a restaurant on your birthday? Those days were the best!
Did you know that this still exists in some restaurants? A lot of restaurants have birthday programs where they email you special deals and discounts to use on your big day.
A lot of places will give you your entire dinner for free (unfortunately your friends will have to pay!).
6) Skip the Starters & Desserts
If you’re in the mood to eat out but you are living on a budget, work out how much you actually have to spend, and maybe this time you don’t need a starter and a dessert!
Let’s be honest, when you’re having a meal at home do you always have a starter? Do you always have dessert? Probably not so you don’t necessarily have to when you eat out either. Save your money and wait until you get home and have a KitKat!
7) Have a Light Snack Before
If you’re eating out somewhere that you’re friends of perhaps chosen and you know that the menu isn’t on the cheaper side maybe have a snack or a “light bite” before you go.
This way you won’t be absolutely ravenous and order more than you can actually afford.
8) Ask For Tap Water
Another great tip for when you’re eating out is to order tap water. Did you know it is a legal requirement that restaurants are able to serve tap water for free if they sell alcohol in their establishment?
This means you don’t have to break the bank when it comes to ordering a drink, we all know that even soft drinks can be quite costly when you dine out.
9) Go To An All-You-Can-Eat Buffet
Ok, an “all-you-can-eat" buffet isn’t necessarily the most sophisticated night out.
However, if it’s been a long day and you have a massive appetite, but you’re also living on a budget, an all you can eat buffet is probably the place you need to be!
It is usually inexpensive and you can literally “fill your boots” for around two hours before you get kicked out! To be fair, some places actually offer an array of different foods so if you’re not sure what it is that you want to eat, again, this may be the place for you.
10) BYOB Where Possible to Save on Drinks
You’ll also find if you have a look online that there are quite a few restaurants that actually let you bring your own booze (BYOB) if they don’t have a full drinks licence.
Just be wary though as some restaurants will only allow you to bring wine and beer so it is worth checking before you arrive if you are allowed to take spirits, they may also charge you for mixers. You will likely also have to pay a small corkage fee, just give the restaurant a ring in advance to find out what their policy is.
11) Look For Loyalty Programmes
There are a growing number of restaurants which now offer loyalty schemes.
They essentially work the same as most of the loyalty points schemes where you collect a certain number of points/stamps to then get a full free meal. A lot of other independent restaurants are now catching onto this too, so do your research and see what loyalty schemes you can sign up to.
12) Just Get Desserts
If you just like the idea of eating out and the atmosphere in a restaurant but your budget maybe isn’t at its best currently, and why not just go out for dessert?
Sometimes there’s nothing better than a glass of wine and a piece of cake, or a coffee and a cake or whatever other desserts tickle your fancy. It’s definitely a win for your budget.
13) Participate in Market Research
Believe it or not, you can actually take part in market research by joining focus groups which come together at different locations to test certain products and ideas in restaurants and cafes.
When you attend, you will also benefit from free food! Take a look online and see if there is anything local to you that you can attend and enjoy your free meal!
14) Sign Up to Be a Mystery Shopper
Anyone up for a free meal? Mystery dining is your way in for a free meal!
All you need to do is sign up to an agency who will then send you out for free meals at different restaurants. All they ask in return is that you let them know about your experience in terms of the quality of the food, the service, cleanliness etc. Seems like a great job to us!
