We know it’s not great for our budget, but most of can’t help but enjoy a dinner out on occasion. We get to try food we wouldn’t normally make at home, someone else takes care of the prep work and cleanup, and it’s a relaxing way to take time out of our busy schedule and catch up with our spouse, significant other, or friends.
Fortunately, there are lots of ways you can treat yourself to a night out while keeping the final tab from getting too high. Try these tricks the next time you dine out to save yourself some money:
Split the meal. Whether you share an appetiser and dessert or go halfsies on the main entrée itself, splitting food is a great way to enjoy a good meal while cutting costs. Many of us can’t finish an appetiser, entrée, and dessert all on our own, anyway, so why not share?
Drink water. Sodas (whether you get free refills or not) are an unnecessary expense — and also not very good for you. So enjoy the food itself and just opt for a glass of water as your beverage option. You won’t really miss the sugary drinks that much, and your waist line will thank you as well as your wallet!
Choose smaller portions. Who says you need to have a full-blown, several-course dinner? Mix things up and enjoy a lunch out, a night of drinks and dessert, or a quick appetiser snack while you’re out and about. Or, if you do still want to make dinner plans, who says you need an appetiser, entrée, and dessert? Enjoy apps or dessert at home to cut back on costs
Take home (and use!) leftovers. Remembering your take-home box when you leave the restaurant is half the battle; you also have to make sure your leftovers don’t go to waste in the back of your refrigerator. Make sure to eat them within a couple of days to enjoy them at their best. (Reheating in the oven will make them taste much better than in the microwave.) Also, if you’re aiming for a take-home meal, make sure to order something that will hold up well with reheating, like pasta or a chicken dish, as opposed to things like salad, which are really only good served fresh. As long as you’ve already paid for all that food on your plate, you may as well ensure you get to enjoy every last bite of it!
