Americans love dining out, and according to a report by Good Morning America, the average person in the U.S. spent about $2,505 on eating out in 2010, which breaks down to more than $200 a month. But you can actually cut down on these expenses without sacrificing the quality of your meals. Here are some simple strategies to help you save money:
1. Use your Facebook account wisely. If you don’t have one, consider creating one. By liking your favorite restaurants on Facebook, you can get access to exclusive deals and coupons. Restaurants often share special offers with their followers. For example, Famous Dave’s once offered a buy one, get one free coupon to new followers. Keep an eye out for such announcements and like the restaurant pages accordingly.
2. Check the restaurant’s website. Some local and independently owned restaurants offer discounts directly on their websites. Chains might not do this as often, but it’s worth a look. My partner and I found a 15% off coupon for a new Mexican restaurant we wanted to try just by visiting their site.
3. Subscribe to email lists. Many restaurants offer special coupons to their email subscribers and even give out free items on your birthday. Places like Starbucks, Famous Dave’s, and Stir Crazy often give birthday freebies that might be valid for the whole month.
4. Visit websites like RetailMeNot. RetailMeNot sometimes has coupons for restaurants. Right now, they have a discount code for Papa John’s pizza.
5. Join daily-deal websites. Sites like Groupon, LivingSocial, and Double Take Deals offer numerous restaurant deals. By subscribing to their email lists, you can get deals sent to you daily. For example, we once bought several $30-off coupons for just $15 each at our favorite sushi restaurant, which we’ve used over the year.
6. Explore Restaurant.com. This site regularly features coupons for local restaurants and offers discount codes frequently. You can sometimes buy a $10 voucher that gives you $25 off after applying these codes, making it a great way to save money while dining out.
Using these strategies, you can enjoy eating out without breaking the bank.