Frugal Traveler's Guide To Eating Out
12-11-2017
Author: in Food
RV travelers are lucky because we carry an entire kitchen with us wherever we go. Unfortunately, we don’t always feel like cooking. For my family, this is especially true on travel days when we really just want to grab a bite and go. However, it also applies on sightseeing days, meaning we find ourselves wanting to eat out more often than we’d like.
Fortunately, we have come up with some tricks for helping us afford the occasional meal out. These come in very handy when we want to try out a local eatery or when we are in a hurry and don't have time to pack a lunch.
Use Groupon
Groupon is where I go first to look for special deals and discounts. I can usually get an enormous amount off of our meals by using a discount code in combination with Ebates. Of course, you will want to read reviews before purchasing and check the restaurant menu in order to ensure you are actually getting a good deal.
Another option for similar discounts is Living Social. While I don't find as many great deal on this site, it is always worth checking out.
Seek Out Specials
When crowd savings aren’t an option, it is a good idea to seek out special deals. For instance, many restaurants will have BOGO deals on certain nights of the week. Others will have a happy hour when appetizers are half-off. Find those specials and put them to use.
Split Meals
Generally speaking, restaurants serve way too much food per plate. For this reason, my family will almost always choose to split plates instead of purchasing a meal for each person in the family. This gives us the right amount of food and saves us a bit of money.
Another option that provides the same results is to order kids meals for everyone in your party. Kids meals are often a very good deal, so be sure to consider this option at every new eatery.
Skip the Soda
Soft drinks are way overpriced when ordered from restaurants. Instead of paying a ridiculous amount of money for sugary beverages, opt for water with your meal. If you simply must have a sweet drink, grab one from the grocery store later on, or order one drink for the table to share. This will save you quite a bit of money in the long run.
Eat Between Regular Meal Times
Sometimes when we are out and about, my family will choose to skip lunch entirely and eat an early dinner, filling in the gaps with snacks from home. This means we only have to pay for one full meal while out. It also means we can often slip in while lunch prices are still in effect, saving some more cash.
By using these simple tips, we make eating out an affordable luxury that we enjoy on a fairly regular basis. Do you enjoy eating out too? We encourage you to try some of these tricks and come up with some of your own.
Fortunately, we have come up with some tricks for helping us afford the occasional meal out. These come in very handy when we want to try out a local eatery or when we are in a hurry and don't have time to pack a lunch.
Use Groupon
Groupon is where I go first to look for special deals and discounts. I can usually get an enormous amount off of our meals by using a discount code in combination with Ebates. Of course, you will want to read reviews before purchasing and check the restaurant menu in order to ensure you are actually getting a good deal.
Another option for similar discounts is Living Social. While I don't find as many great deal on this site, it is always worth checking out.
Seek Out Specials
When crowd savings aren’t an option, it is a good idea to seek out special deals. For instance, many restaurants will have BOGO deals on certain nights of the week. Others will have a happy hour when appetizers are half-off. Find those specials and put them to use.
Split Meals
Generally speaking, restaurants serve way too much food per plate. For this reason, my family will almost always choose to split plates instead of purchasing a meal for each person in the family. This gives us the right amount of food and saves us a bit of money.
Another option that provides the same results is to order kids meals for everyone in your party. Kids meals are often a very good deal, so be sure to consider this option at every new eatery.
Skip the Soda
Soft drinks are way overpriced when ordered from restaurants. Instead of paying a ridiculous amount of money for sugary beverages, opt for water with your meal. If you simply must have a sweet drink, grab one from the grocery store later on, or order one drink for the table to share. This will save you quite a bit of money in the long run.
Eat Between Regular Meal Times
Sometimes when we are out and about, my family will choose to skip lunch entirely and eat an early dinner, filling in the gaps with snacks from home. This means we only have to pay for one full meal while out. It also means we can often slip in while lunch prices are still in effect, saving some more cash.
By using these simple tips, we make eating out an affordable luxury that we enjoy on a fairly regular basis. Do you enjoy eating out too? We encourage you to try some of these tricks and come up with some of your own.
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Author: Chelsea Barron
