Bing Search

10 ways to eat out on the cheap

You may not have to give up restaurants to stick with your budget -- a little planning and flexibility can make a big difference in your bill.
Pin it
By Kyle James, U.S. News & World Report

 

  • 1
  • of
  • 12
    • 1
    • of
    • 12

    RELATED ARTICLES

    VIDEO ON MSN MONEY

    User Picture
    Write a comment...
    92Comments
    Kirk Thomas
    Mar 11, 2013 5:12PM
    avatar
    I stopped at Denny's this past Sunday and had a simple breakfast and a cup of coffee. Does anyone ever look at the cost of a single cup of coffee? With tax, $2.46 -- for a cup of coffee? No doubt I'm old enough to remember when coffee was 10 cents a cup but almost two and half bucks for a cup of joe? - Going to start drinking water.
    BmoreJoker516
    Mar 11, 2013 3:25PM
    avatar

    And this country wonders why it's 17 trillion in debt everyone is looking for something for free. Soon people will be able to go to Outback and use food stamps, It's getting ridiculous people wake up and live within your means. If you can't afford to go out and pay for something then I guess its just not meant for you.  

    2013nNochgs
    Mar 15, 2013 10:06AM
    avatar

    I am offended that you allow the "N" word to grace this so called modern piece of journalism.  I have been at restaurants where whites (not necessarily poor!) have used the system.  It is unfair to generalize and assume that all blacks use the system restaurant or otherwise.  It does show that the individual has low self esteem because he suggests that a whole race 'can not afford' to go out to dinner.  On the other hand, he may look into his definition of ****, "a lowdown ignorant person."  This sounds like the author of that statement.  In the meantime, during this economy all families have a right to take their family out to dinner no matter what the economic status.  It appears to me that the haves are still begrudging the have nots (or economically challenged, thrifty) from living a better quality of life and going out to dinner.

    Prejudice makes me sick!

    kerfooefy
    Mar 9, 2013 3:35AM
    avatar
    Are any of these even worth reading?
    uspatriot_01
    Mar 15, 2013 11:23AM
    avatar
    How about Little Caesars Pizza? Take a couple of pizzas home, make a nice salad, and watch a rented PPV or DVD movie? That's pretty darned cheap.
    TJW 2
    Mar 9, 2013 3:41AM
    avatar
    If you're too cheap to eat out, stay home and eat.
    bassman1961
    Mar 11, 2013 3:35PM
    avatar
    Chilli's & any chain food dump is not Dining , its eating junk food , we as Americans need to change our Dining habits , any of that chain food crap is bad for you! Cook & Dine at home YOUR NOT THAT BUSY! You would be amazed at how good you can cook with just a little effort ....
    MS. MARILYN
    Mar 15, 2013 2:49PM
    avatar
    When  my husband and I started dating, it was a lunch date. Years later, we still eat lunch together. On the weekends, we take the kids (11 & 13) out with us for brunch. We are ready to leave by the time the crowd is coming in. That's the way I like things. I do everything early or off peak. I am in the stores, when the doors open. The place is nearly a "Ghost town"; no lines no waiting and I'm back home by the time the crowd gathers . I give restaurant gift cards and store gift certificates too. The teachers love them as do my oldest son and his friends @ college. He will be graduating early because learned the trick too.  He stayed at school during 2 summers and took extra courses.  I don't know much about coupons but  i have a friend uses them like she's playing Cards (poker face and all). It just seems like so much work to me clipping, watching dates, organizing, watching the sales papers. I'd rather just pay a decent price on regular basis. Anyway, I know for a fact that doing things early/off peak  is cheaper; even vacationing and flying. That's my way of saving. God Bless all.
    lac0423
    Mar 15, 2013 12:22PM
    avatar

    Sharing an entree doesn't necessarily work. Many of the places we dine charge a "split fee" for an entree, or a surcharge for sharing.

    Hammonton
    Mar 20, 2013 12:26AM
    avatar
    Does anyone cook at home anymore?  You can use ground meat for lots of easy dishes... meatballs, meatloaf, and burgers.  Just add a healthy salad, some pasta or brown rice for a delicious meal .A lot cheaper then going to a junk food place.
    Steve in CO
    Mar 11, 2013 7:42PM
    avatar
    I typically go to high-end, 5 star restaurants and just order water and eat the free bread. 
    will watch
    Mar 15, 2013 3:33PM
    avatar

    These financial analysts and counselors-even the CPA's have to find a new drum to beat.  They have reached saturation with articles on buying coffee and eating out - week after week - day after day- same old stories. Eat out if you want to - pay for your food and leave a tip and have a coffee if you want to - eating out is fun, relaxing, wonderful to eat food that someone else prepared and have it brought to you and no dishes.  Give these eating out/ buying coffee articles a rest, please and find other items to write about.  I am going to go get a coffee and plan dinner out for tonight that includes a tip and I do not want a to go box!

    Someone (evs shark)
    Mar 15, 2013 1:39PM
    avatar
    Join Restaurant.com I can get four 25.00 certifacites for four dollars.
    grateful for dogs
    Mar 11, 2013 6:46PM
    avatar
    stay at home and eat  ****in hotdogs and be glad you got that
    8 dollars an hour
    Mar 20, 2013 2:58AM
    avatar
    Oh, just by a roasted chicken in a grocery store and some macaroni salad and eat it in the parking lot.  If you want to eat cheap, do it.  LOL!
    wakeupcall1964
    Mar 15, 2013 3:10PM
    avatar
    Bassman I hear ya. Processed foods, fast foods, they are all garbage. Lacking nutrients to feed your body. We are a lazy society, developing chronic illnesses due to our bad habits, creating unnecessary health problems to be treated by rich doctors, who make deals with the pharm companies, who constantly create new pills for these conditions, who pay the government to keep pumping out and approving the garbage we eat.   Love the triangle peeps lol 
    Dave studies all
    Apr 19, 2013 7:24PM
    avatar
    How about eating real food at home.  No cheap meats containing hormones, antibiotics, and excitotoxins, and fed pesticide laden GMO ****.  Do you think it's normal for salmon to eat corn?  Cows should eat grass.  Pigs - well, whatever.

    Its a lot better at home.
    Wolann
    Apr 19, 2013 11:54PM
    avatar
    The best way to save on eating out it to no stop eating out. I stopped eating out 2 years ago and lost 30 pounds and saved over $2000.
    Pips29
    Apr 19, 2013 7:35PM
    avatar
    Unfortunately eating out has gotten very expensive, as has everything.  The very sad part is that when some people really can't afford to eat out but still do, they save money by leaving little to no tip.  If you can't afford to eat at a restaurant AND leave a 15% to 20% tip, you have no business eating there...period.  I have a son and daughter who both currently work at restaurants and have done so for years throughout high school and now while going to college.  For the last couple years this has been a huge "trend" they find happening.  Another thing that happens with coupons or discounts is that people tip on the lower amount and probably don't realize they should be tipping on what the original bill would have been.  Poor service should be discussed with a manager so if you really had lousy service and don't wish to tip, at least the waiter or waitress will informed of the reason for low to no tip.  Not all problems with your experience in a restaurant are the server's fault (the food not cooked correctly, tastes funny, bad food, etc), but instead of taking their complaints too the manager, many people just leave little to no tip without an explanation.  If you DO tell the server and/or manager when there is something wrong with the food, please still tip if the service was good.  The bad food isn't a pass to leave no tip.  If the server still did their job, a tip is in order.   Also remember in a lot of states they are only paid a little over $3 an hour so most of them are counting on their tips to make a living.   
    MOMMY352
    Apr 19, 2013 6:23PM
    avatar
    almost every restaraunt has a web site where you can sign up for emails with coupons . when i go out i go to places i get coupons from. some of the nicer restraunts you save up to ten dollars or more. most places will email you free stuff for your birthday too.
    Walter Correa III (gb71)
    Mar 12, 2013 6:32AM
    avatar
    the cheapest way is not to eat out unless it's on McDonalds dollar value menu.
    cookcrazy123
    Apr 19, 2013 6:50PM
    avatar
    Make her pay for a change.
    thesparky1
    Mar 28, 2013 1:39AM
    avatar

    Get water.  Take in your own packets of drink mix.  There's only a 1 percent chance the manager will get upset.  It especially works in restaurants that use red water glasses.  One time it even got me a free restaurant drink. I had added cherry drink mix and the lady doing drink service noticed it.  She later brought me a real one.  I fessed up to what I did and she was nice about it and told me not to pay for it.

    Also join Chilis lists.  I get free appetizers all the time.  Do the 2-for deals when you can.  Order appetizers as a meal (but not the free ones).

    Here's my #1 trick for living cheap.  Order a meal, eat half, take home for dinner.

    ManPower1
    Apr 20, 2013 5:33PM
    avatar
    We need to stop tipping. As Americans we are way too generous with tipping. In other countires tipping is generally 10%. Restaurants need to stop paying slave wages to their workers. They can afford to pay more but lie and say we can't afford to pay our workers and servers a minimum wage ets. Its nonsense. When I worked retail I was not expecting tips and refused nicely thanking them for offering. The service especially in restaurants in America have been on the decline. I've been out many times with people when we got lousy service they insisted on paying them 20% or so. Let us keep our tips to spend on more food ,gas, etc.
    do not be cheap
    Apr 19, 2013 9:05PM
    avatar
    My question is: Why going out on the cheap. If you do not have any money to spend do not go out!!. This means that you are broke or cheap. Cook yourself at home. Don't be lazy!! . It will be cheaper and healthier. Usually cheap food is not healthy. Think about it. All this restaurants that sell cheap they are using very poor ingredients. Do you think they will use olive oil? If you do not have money for decent food and make sure you have at least 20% tip. Do not go out!! Do not embarrass yourself.
    Rocking Horse
    Apr 19, 2013 11:36PM
    avatar
    The N word? huh? I am black. I call my pals brother or crackers . It is a word that no  longer  has impact. Kind of a good ol boy thing. I even say Negro. Oh my god, someone is black and I said negro. So, why does this matter at all? Hendrix, Robert Cray, Fred and Albert King, hip Negros. Why would anyone care if your white or black at all? Crap exist in every race and that's a fact. Denny's has good crisp hash browns and uses medium sized eggs and that way, they profit and save cost. Coffee is that price to make up for the medium eggs as they would prefer small eggs. The burgers are OK if you go with an average clown burger, lettuce , tomato and mayo. Don't know why every thing on the burger menu is ten inflated U.S. clown bucks. Five guys still has greasy great fry's and a burger that is a burger, not that health food McD crap . Four eggs and hash browns and toast at Denny is still a good thing. 
    Someone (evs shark)
    Mar 15, 2013 1:38PM
    avatar

    It is best to just get water at a restaurant then go to Circle K and get coffee for a buck or an extra large soda for 73 cents.

    OEL NGATI KAMEIE
    Mar 11, 2013 2:57PM
    avatar
    taco bell is a great way to eat on the cheap.
    8 dollars an hour
    Mar 20, 2013 3:04AM
    avatar

    To eat cheap, I usually go to a skid row mission.  The meal is free but first I  have to listen to an hour long lecture about how Jesus still loves me first.  Heh!

    Report
    Please help us to maintain a healthy and vibrant community by reporting any illegal or inappropriate behavior. If you believe a message violates theCode of Conductplease use this form to notify the moderators. They will investigate your report and take appropriate action. If necessary, they report all illegal activity to the proper authorities.
    Categories
    100 character limit
    Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

    DATA PROVIDERS

    Copyright © 2013 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
     
    Quotes are real-time for NASDAQ, NYSE and AMEX. See delay times for other exchanges.
     
    Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Thomson Reuters; click for restrictions. Real-time quotes provided by BATS Exchange. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Interactive Data Real-Time Services. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by SIX Telekurs.
     
    Japanese stock price data provided by Nomura Research Institute Ltd.; quotes delayed 20 minutes. Canadian fund data provided by CANNEX Financial Exchanges Ltd.