Eating Out on a Budget

Happy Monday, everybody!

As if y'all didn't know by now, Kyle and I are pretty cheap...I mean frugal. We do a lot of stuff to save money that leave most people shaking their heads thinking, "Are they crazy?" The simple answer is yes - we are totally insane. We are crazy enough to prioritize being retired in our early thirties, and in order to make that goal attainable, we have to make changes right now. Some of these changes are small such as making sure to turn lights off when we don't need them. Others take greater sacrifice such as leaving our house at 58 degrees in the dead of winter (believe me, it's harder than it sounds). If you have similar goals as ours, rest assured that you can achieve them; you just have to get started.

Although we're good about avoiding most unnecessary indulgences, going out to eat is something we rarely resist. We love to spend time with one another, completely unconcerned about whether or not we've burnt a meal or misread a cooking instruction. In fact, we eat out at least twice a week. But we do it consciously - aka we are very careful about where we go, what we order, and looking for deals prior to the meal. Check out our tips for eating out on a budget:

1. Say no to drinks, appetizers, and desserts

I die a little inside when a restaurant charges me three bucks for a coke when I could buy an entire 2 liter for one dollar! It's totally unfair, but the fact is that most restaurants have every intention of screwing you over with their prices on drinks, appetizers, and desserts. My advice? AVOID THEM! They are totally unnecessary to having an enjoyable meal. Oh, if you're one of those people who has to have an "appetizer" before your meal, just go to a restaurant that serves free bread or chips. BAM - Free appetizer. You're welcome. Another tip - if you tend to crave sodas like I do, have one before you go out to eat. They will be much less tempting when you get to the restaurant, and you can order water instead.

2. Eat Local

Almost every week, Kyle and I enjoy "Taco Tuesday" at a local Mexican restaurant. They only charge you one dollar per taco, and they so good! I usually order two tacos, Kyle will order three, and we will have the free chips and salsa as an "appetizer." When it's all said and done, we end up spending around 8 bucks with tip (and even cheaper when we order take out). That's a heck of a deal, and there are plenty more to go around. On Wednesdays, we get a dozen oysters for five bucks at our favorite seafood joint, and on the weekends, we get 50% off sushi and hibachi from a local Japanese restaurant. Take the time to check out your local non-chain restaurants; they almost always have awesome deals to bring in new customers who may not have tried them otherwise.

3. Sign up for Email Clubs

Let's say you and your family are planning to enjoy a meal out together this Saturday. What should you do in the mean time? Sign up for that restaurant's email club, of course! Most chain restaurants will send you a free appetizer, dessert, or sometimes even a meal within a day or two after signing up. The deals don't end after that first promotion - they will usually send you coupons pretty regularly and even something free on your birthday! If you're proactive and plan ahead before an evening out, I guarantee you will find a way to save some money.

4. Look out for special promotions

This past weekend, Kyle and I went out to enjoy a meal at O’Charley’s. Already a pretty affordable place, right? It gets better! From 3-9 every single day, they offer four dollar appetizers. We were pretty intrigued by this deal and chose to order a few appetizers for our meals instead of entrees. We had chili cheese nachos, friend pickles, and mozzarella sticks to share between the two of us. Plus, we received a 20% off coupon in our email, so we applied that to the bill. With tip, we paid 13 bucks and left with full bellies. If you're willing to think outside of the box when ordering out, you're bound to find better deals.

5. Split a meal

For those of you who don't have large appetites, splitting is a great option. You still leave the restaurant full, and you don't have to worry about where you're going to fit those to-go boxes in your fridge. If your appetite is a little too big for splitting but you still want to save some cash, order an appetizer and one meal. Appetizers will always be cheaper than an entree, and you usually get the same amount of food. When Kyle and I go to Texas Roadhouse, for example, we usually split the country fried chicken and an appetizer of cheese fries. For our two sides that come with the entree, we order a salad for each of us. It still feels like a full meal, but we're actually saving about 7 or 8 dollars. Oh, and if you're super savvy and managed to snag a coupon for a free appetizer, you're saving even more! Go you!

Disclaimer - Being frugal and smart with your money does not give you the right to leave a crappy tip. If you can't afford to leave the waiter at least 15% (we always leave around 18% or more), then don't go out to eat. Don't be a bad person. Thanks guys :-)