5 of The Best Ways To Save Money When Eating Out

I love eating out!  I cook 5 meals a week and I also love that…most of the time. I do love the nights when I don’t have to cook and my husband takes me out to eat.  Ever since my daughter was old enough to babysit, my husband and I make sure we go on a date once a week, which usually consists of eating out (we are boring like that)!  We never had the money to go out and pay a babysitter so we hardly had date nights until we had a live-in babysitter, or sometimes we took the kids with us! That can get expensive, but there are so many ways to save money when eating out it’s crazy.  I will not pay full price anymore for a meal, unless it’s a special occasion and we are going to a certain place that I know doesn’t take coupons or have deals.  The other day I was chattin with a friend telling her about a deal at Applebees and she said, I need to remember all these places you have told me that have deals on food!  I hadn’t realized it, but I guess the last few times I had talked to her I had told her like 3 different places that have food deals on certain days!  So today I thought I would share with you 5 of the best ways to save money when eating out. 

5 of The Best Ways To Save Money When Eating Out

BUY A COUPON CARD / BOOK 

You know when the scouts or football players come by with those Starving Student Cards to earn money for something?  Buy it!  They are usually only $20-$25 and you can save so much money using them!  They usually have a least one and sometimes three discounts per place, and they are almost always a Buy One Get One Free (without having to buy drinks). We also have a coupon card in our area called the Dixie Direct which also has lots of BOGO offers.  

USE MAIL COUPONS 

I used to throw these away when I got these coupons in the mail.  These are usually for fast food restaurants like Arby’s or Wendy’s.  Our favorite is when they have the coupon for Tropical Smoothie Cafe.  It’s usually $1.99 for a smoothie which is an awesome deal when they are usually $4 dollars!  Maybe a burger and fries isn’t super exciting for a date night, but you can have just as great of conversation with your spouse over a burger and fries than you can over an expensive restaurant.  

SIGN UP FOR RESTAURNT APPS  OR EMAILS AND RECIEVE FREE FOOD

We do this for Costa Vita.  My favorite place to eat.  We use our staring student card to get buy one get one free and then I scan my receipt in and it gives me money back to use whenever I want to.  I know Cafe Rio does this also. You can also sign up for their “clubs” to receive their emails and receive free coupons that way! Check HERE, HERE and HERE for reward programs to know about.   

FIND OUT ABOUT LOCAL PLACES THAT HAVE DEALS ON CERTAIN DAYS

So many business have deals on certain days.  Some are large restaurant chains, but lots of times even your own local businesses have deals on certain days, especially for kids, to get the adults to come eat there!  Here are some that I know about….

Buffalo Wild Wings offers $.65 each Boneless Wing all day every Thursday! (Minimum order of 6 boneless wings). Also on Tuesdays ½ price on their regular wings.  I have gone here on girls nights with friends or on dates with my husband. Ordered 6 wings, which are filling and a coleslaw and leave full!  

Applebee’s, this is one of my favorite deals.  Many Applebee’s locations have select appetizers for half price after 9 pm on weekdays and after 10 pm on weekends. I know it’s late, put your younger kids to bed, don’t eat dinner, and head out to Applebees.  Their appetizers are HUGE so don’t think you are getting something small for 1/2 price.  Once I went there thinking I was getting just a tiny plate of each one, so I ordered 3 appetizers, only spending like $12 and I had SOOO much food!  My favorite are the boneless wings and the Chicken Wonton Tacos.

Kneaders, this is my favorite place to get pastries and bread.  Every Saturday Night, from 8 pm – 10 pm, while they last, pastries and breads are 1/2 off! We love to go out to dinner somewhere and then go get dessert at Kneaders.  The line can get long, but oh it’s so worth it!!  Their Fruit Tarts and Pies, and Cinnamon bread and everything is to die for!!

There are a lot of places for eating out where kids eat cheap or free on certain nights.  Here are some that I know of….

Cafe Rio – Everyday Kids age 6 and younger can receive a free quesadilla with the purchase of an adult meal.

Tucanos Brazilian Grill – Every day Kids age 6 and younger eat free.

Paradise Bakery & Cafe – Monday’s and Tuesdays after 4:00 get a free kid’s meal for children 12 and younger with the purchase of an adult entree.

Texas Roadhouse – Mondays all kids meals are priced at $2.49 for kids 12 and under.  

Denny’s – Every day from 4-10Kids 10 and younger eat free with the purchase of an adult meal. Up to two kids’ meals per adult entree.

Applebees – All Day Mondays Kids’ meals (for children 12 and younger) are priced $1.99-2.99, no adult entree purchase necessary.

Culver’s – Every day, anyone, regardless of age, gets a free scoop of custard with the purchase of a kid’s meal.

Firehouse Subs – All day Sunday and from 4-9 p.m. on Monday Kids 12 and younger get a free combo meal with the purchase of an adult combo meal.

IHOP – Every day from 4-10 p.m. Get one free meal for a child 12 or younger with the purchase of an adult entree, drink not included.

IKEA –  Tuesdays Kids 12 and younger receive a free meal.

Chick-fil-A –  Kids eat free on Tuesdays between 5:30-7:30 p.m. with the purchase of an adult combo meal. NOTE: some locations charge $0.99 per kids meal. (This might just be certain stores. Check with your store to see what deals they have.)

Buffalo Wild Wings – Kids 12 and under can eat from the kids menu for just 99 cents. Varies by location.

There you have it! My tips for being able to eat out and not break the bank!!  I would love to hear your tips for eating out if you have any, please share them in the comments below!!