I do. I love pizza. And today we saw signs that Domino's had medium pizzas for $2.50. So, we took advantage of the cheap meal!
I love a good bargain, and most of all I love a cheap, piping hot pizza.
Many restaurants are now offering specials of this type, so it pays to keep your eye out for them! The special at our local Dominos was only advertised on little signs on the road. A few months ago, Boston Market offered meals for $1 each with a coupon. Little bargains like this allow you to stretch your budget, so take the opportunities while they last!
Showing posts with label Dining out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dining out. Show all posts
1.31.2010
4.28.2008
Spartan Monday
"Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things. " Elise Boulding
I was thinking today about how much money I save by taking my lunch to work. Leftovers are what I normally pack, though occasionally I just grab a can of soup and some crackers. There are only a few of us in my office and for the most part we're all in the habit of brown-bagging our lunches. However, sometimes bringing lunch everyday grows boring. Occasionally I need a good restaurant lunch. A soft spot that I have is for Chinese lunch specials, and we have a great carry-out place less than a mile west of the office. I consider Chinese take-out for lunch a great value because the lunch specials contain enough food for 2-3 days worth of lunches. For $5.25 you get soup, an egg roll, a large portion of an entree, and rice. It's a great value! Also, I can get a baked potato and a cup of chili at Wendy's for $2 + tax- you can't beat that for price! It's filling, it's cheap, and it's a lot less strain on your health than a hamburger/fries/soda combo. For an afternoon pick-me-up, Sonic drive-ins offer "Happy Hour" from 2pm-4pm where select drinks are half-price. Those are my "at work" lunches/indulgences without breaking the bank.
What do you do to save money on lunch?
4.08.2008
Saving money while dining out
Our free local newspaper recently started offering discount gift cards for restaurants in our county. Restaurants.com offers similar promotions. I was unsure of how it worked, but now I am LOVING the savings!
While we don’t go out to eat nearly as much as we used to, going out is still inevitable. Sometimes I need a break from eating my own cooking, and often we just like to “go out” with friends. The aforementioned discount websites offer gift certificates to restaurants at half-price! It’s amazing! James and I love our local (and very nearby) restaurant Long Doggers. Well, Long Doggers happened to participate in this promo, so we purchased $100 in gift certificates for only $50! Since our average bill at Long Doggers is only $20, we can go out to eat 5 times on that $50 we spent—I think that’s pretty awesome.
There are actually a lot of ways to cut spending when dining out. First of all, get take-out! James and I have realized that we spend about $15-20 extra by dining-in at some restaurants, so picking up our food to go is a way to cut costs. For instance, the Thai restaurant that we love offers take-out and all that we spend when we choose this option is the money for the entrees. We’re not buying drinks at $2.50 each, we’re not tipping a waiter (normally about $8-10) and we’re not tempted to spend $5.25 on an appetizer portion of edamame when I can buy a whole bag for $1.99 and steam it myself at home. The appeal to order one of the delicious desserts is not a problem when you order take-out; that saves both money and calories.
Also, many restaurants offer coupons in newspapers and circulars--don't feel ashamed to use these!
Knowing what your local grocery store offers in the way of “family meals” is a good alternative to going out to eat. For instance, Publix offers a family meal for 4 for $9.99! They have a bag that you can fill with your choice of a rotisserie chicken or an 8 piece carton of fried chicken, 2 deli sides of your liking, and a small pack of rolls. I have even seen promos where they have added in a ½ gallon of sweet tea for free! James and I have enjoyed this combo family meal on several occasions, and both agree that it is a great value for only ten dollars.
It’s hard to avoid spending money on restaurants—but if you think ahead and do it smartly, you won’t break the bank.
Challenge: Research how much you have spent on dining out over the last month by looking over your bank statements or receipts. Is it more that you realized? Are you spending more on going out to eat than you are on groceries? It’s not too late to pick up new dining out habits!
While we don’t go out to eat nearly as much as we used to, going out is still inevitable. Sometimes I need a break from eating my own cooking, and often we just like to “go out” with friends. The aforementioned discount websites offer gift certificates to restaurants at half-price! It’s amazing! James and I love our local (and very nearby) restaurant Long Doggers. Well, Long Doggers happened to participate in this promo, so we purchased $100 in gift certificates for only $50! Since our average bill at Long Doggers is only $20, we can go out to eat 5 times on that $50 we spent—I think that’s pretty awesome.
There are actually a lot of ways to cut spending when dining out. First of all, get take-out! James and I have realized that we spend about $15-20 extra by dining-in at some restaurants, so picking up our food to go is a way to cut costs. For instance, the Thai restaurant that we love offers take-out and all that we spend when we choose this option is the money for the entrees. We’re not buying drinks at $2.50 each, we’re not tipping a waiter (normally about $8-10) and we’re not tempted to spend $5.25 on an appetizer portion of edamame when I can buy a whole bag for $1.99 and steam it myself at home. The appeal to order one of the delicious desserts is not a problem when you order take-out; that saves both money and calories.
Also, many restaurants offer coupons in newspapers and circulars--don't feel ashamed to use these!
Knowing what your local grocery store offers in the way of “family meals” is a good alternative to going out to eat. For instance, Publix offers a family meal for 4 for $9.99! They have a bag that you can fill with your choice of a rotisserie chicken or an 8 piece carton of fried chicken, 2 deli sides of your liking, and a small pack of rolls. I have even seen promos where they have added in a ½ gallon of sweet tea for free! James and I have enjoyed this combo family meal on several occasions, and both agree that it is a great value for only ten dollars.
It’s hard to avoid spending money on restaurants—but if you think ahead and do it smartly, you won’t break the bank.
Challenge: Research how much you have spent on dining out over the last month by looking over your bank statements or receipts. Is it more that you realized? Are you spending more on going out to eat than you are on groceries? It’s not too late to pick up new dining out habits!
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