How much money do you spend at restaurants in a year?

According to a few studies, the average American household spends no less than $2,300 on eating at restaurants and purchasing takeout. The number is actually lower than the one from 2012, when people used to spend roughly $2,500 annually on eating out.

You might think that’s not a lot of money, given the fact that we talk about approximately $200 every month, but if you give it a second thought, you might come to the conclusion that you could’ve done a lot more with that money; like going on a trip with your family, giving your house a quick makeover, investing, or treating yourself to buying that item you’ve had your eyes on for quite a while now.

If you cut your dining costs just a little, you’ll notice a big difference. So how can you do that? The easiest answer to this question is to eat at home and say goodbye to restaurants and takeout. But we understand: where’s the fun in that? Where’s the social life?

That’s why we’ve talked to a few experts and we’ve come up with a few solutions that will help you save money, go to all the restaurants you want, and still increase your wealth at the same time. It sounds too good to be true? Keep reading along with us to discover our best tips!

1. Split your meal

You already know that a lot of meals that you eat in restaurants are usually over-portioned, and you either eat too much and feel like you’re going to explode, or you feel full and you leave the rest of your food on the plate, which means that you’ll waste money and food at the same time. And that’s not the way you save some extra cash, trust us.

The easiest thing you can do is to split your dish in two. This way, you’ll have both dinner and lunch for one price. Don’t be shy and ask the waiter for a to-go box to take the rest of your food with you when you leave.

This simple tip will help you save money, have some food for the next day, and say goodbye to the extra calories at the same time.

…Have you ever tried this? 

2. Get coupons

If you’re not already a coupon user, then what are you doing? It’s time to get on board with some serious sites that will save you a lot of money, such as Groupon Now, LivingSocial, Restaurants.com, or CitySearch. These amazing websites post deals that will give you some huge discounts, up to 90% off at several restaurants you like. You’ll have to act quickly, as many people use these platforms, but it’s all worth it in the end.

3. Order water

As much as you might love going to restaurants and enjoying the atmosphere there, remember that the food is the star of the whole experience, not the soda or the coffee. Next time you go out to eat, ask the waiter for a glass of water rather than juice or other beverages. This way, you’ll save a few dollars off your tab, and you’ll still get to enjoy your time out. After all, water is free, so why not make the best out of it?

4. Special occasion deals

Everyone wants to treat their clients well so that they keep coming back to buy their products, and trust us, restaurants are no different, which is exactly why we tell you to ask them if they have any special occasion deals.

A lot of dining places have an anniversary or birthday club, which you can easily access and enjoy all the amazing benefits. It’s free to sign up, and they’ll send you a coupon around the special date, so all you have to do is eat. You can ask the waiter for more details and how to sign up. However, if they don’t have a mailing list, the staff will surely tell you what you can get cheaper or even free on your special occasion.

5. Follow them on social media

As you already know by now, everyone has upped their activity on social media, and restaurants couldn’t be left behind. A lot of places tend to post special deals on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even TikTok, that they don’t usually mention on their websites.

If you like their pages and you become their follower, you’ll be able to get access to the information you couldn’t find anywhere else, such as discount codes, deals, coupons, and even free staff.

Do you follow any of your favorite restaurants on social media? Do they post any updates or discounts? Let us know in the comments down below!

6. Buy gift certificates

…Did you know that you can purchase gift certificates for an extremely low price?

If you go to restaurant.com, you might be lucky and find all types of amazing deals you absolutely don’t want to miss! There are people who buy $25 gift certificates for $10 and $50 gift certificates for only $20. If this isn’t a bargain, we don’t know what it is!

However, there are some limitations, including the fact that each restaurant can only accept them once each month and that they are only available for dine-in. However, the website has grown to be so well-liked that you can earn frequent flier miles by, for example, purchasing Restaurant.com certificates through an airline’s online store.

7. Eat your lunch out

If you love eating out but you still want to save money, we have some good news for you! Go on a lunch date! It’s usually way less expensive than eating dinner out, and you can always get some extras, such as a salad or soup with your meal. And the best part is that all of these will cost you less than the main dish at dinnertime.

8. Skip the appetizer

If the restaurant you love offers free bread or chips and salsa, consider yourself lucky, because you won’t have to spend extra money on an appetizer to leave the place feeling full and satisfied. Enjoy the free and delicious food they give you and put the extra money you would’ve spent on an entrée towards your savings account.

9. Go out on a Monday or Tuesday

The first days of the week are always the hardest for restaurants because people prefer to enjoy their free time and try new things on the weekends, to wind down after a busy and stressful week. However, restaurants know this, and they try to come up with several deals and offers to make customers fill their booths.

So why not move your special night in town to a Monday or a Tuesday? You’ll get all those yummy foods you like for a better price! You can find delicious pizza for only $10, affordable burger deals, two-for-one specials, and even all-you-can-eat wings! Trust us, you want to go and eat out at the beginning of the week!

10. Happy hour

Okay, we know that we’ve previously said that you should say pass on appetizers if your goal is to save money. But here’s the trick. Even though we stick by that tip, we’ve discovered something else that will help you stay on track and still enjoy some appetizers.

All you have to do is to check the happy hour at your favorite restaurants and dine during that time. This means that you’ll have dinner a bit earlier than usual, but the good thing is that you might be able to enjoy some delicious half-priced entrée.

We remember that when we were younger, we used to have a cake shop we were absolutely crazy about. That was the place where you could find the best cheesecake in town. It was so creamy, sweet but not too sweet, fresh, and tasty, but expensive.

However, we asked the waiter if they had a happy hour and they told us that between 7 to 10 pm, they were offering 40% discounts on all the products they had. You better believe that once a week, at 7 pm, all of us were there, ready to enjoy the most delicious cheesecake in town! So yes, you should ask the staff if they have happy hours because the prices are really good and the food is all worth it!

…Do you have any other tips on how to save money at restaurants? We want to know all about it, so make sure to leave a comment down below!

…Do you have trouble staying on a budget? Saving money is easier said than done, but it’s not impossible! Check this article out to discover our best tips: ANYBODY CAN SAVE MORE MONEY WITH THESE 7 NEW HABITS!