Slash your everyday expenses. Think one less
specialty coffee, soft drink and candy bar a week.
2.
Keep your eyes open for new restaurants
in town. They typically offer grand opening specials.
3.
Check your local newspapers
for advertisements of lunch and dinner specials,
early bird specials; look for coupons, too.
4.
Take advantage of the
chambers of commerce and visitors centers -- even
in your own town. You'll find great restaurant discount
coupons.
- advertisement -
5.
Limit eating lunch out,
and try brown bag lunches.
6.
Do lunch instead of
dinner. Lunch menus usually offer the same entrees
as dinner, just smaller portions and a smaller check.
7.
Dine out during the
week rather than on the weekends. Often the menu
prices climb over the weekend.
8.
Go vegetarian.
Vegetarian entrees are usually less expensive than
ones made with meat.
9.
Go ethnic.
Some ethnic foods are better bargains than others.
You can get a lot of food for the money in Chinese,
Mexican, Italian, Indian and Thai restaurants.
10.
Dine early.
Many restaurants offer specials before 6 p.m. It's
perfect for making a show on time or for parents
who need to make an early night of it.
11.
Share an
entrée or stick with the appetizer menu.
Many restaurants serve portions that are too large
for one person to finish.
12.
The markup
on alcoholic beverages in restaurants is high. Instead
of having a drink with dinner, have a glass of wine
or some brandy after you get home.
13.
Have a candlelight
dinner at home, and then go out for coffee and dessert.
14.
Instead
of eating in a restaurant, order out! It's customary
to tip a few dollars to the delivery person, but
not as much as at a restaurant, where the usual
tip is 15 to 20 percent.
