Bringing down the cost of restaurant bills

[kandb]

This might of been mentioned but family never buys softdrinks at restaurants anymore. I buy the single-serve crystal light lemonade from Dollar Tree (they are $1 for a 10 pack) and we all get water and add our lemonade. The price of our bills have gone down alot because of this. Even at Chili's/houlihans a soda is $3 and then with tax and tip, almost $4 extra per person.

 

[happygirl]

This might of been mentioned but family never buys softdrinks at restaurants anymore. I buy the single-serve crystal light lemonade from Dollar Tree (they are $1 for a 10 pack) and we all get water and add our lemonade. The price of our bills have gone down alot because of this. Even at Chili's/houlihans a soda is $3 and then with tax and tip, almost $4 extra per person.

I would never do this. To me it looks cheap and tacky. Just my personal feeling

 

[firecracker725]

I think your heart is in the right place here, but I agree with happygirl that the Crystal Light is pretty tacky. Why not just drink the water? FWIW, my husband and I "split" a soda at most restaurants. I get the soda, he gets water, and he takes a few sips of my drink.

 

[patsal]

We order water becasue that is what we prefer to drink, but I wouldn't bring flavor packets with me that would be in as poor taste as bring a 2 liter bottle of soda and just asking for glasses with ice. Sure the flavor pakets are more discreet, but just as tacky. I find that I save mroe by limiting the number of times we go out, using coupons, groupons, or restaurant.com certificates.

 

[Madison'smommy]

We often get water. I hate paying $2 for a soda with dinner! I also wouldnt bring crystal light packages. If I want a little flavor, I will ask for lemon.

 

[Mom_Rides]

I almost always order water with lemon when we eat out. The cost of ice tea (I don't drink soda) is outrageous to me!

 

[4HppyCamprs]

I was going to suggest ordering water instead of pop/soda because of the steep price of pop but I was a little taken aback at the suggestion to bring flavor packs into a restaurant. It is, in my mind, the same as bringing outside food and drink into a restaurant. I would not order lemon on the side either though because a expose on TV recently showed that those lemons typically come from the bar garnish area and are handled frequently and not cleaned at all. Blah. So if I feel the need to cut back on my bill we order water. It is typically right around 12.00 for 4 sodas at "Family" restaurants and it seems that servers at some of our local restaurants are stingy with refills and personally if it is 3.00 for a pop I want refills or nothing.

Now in the parks or at the zoo we do take water and do add various flavor packs. GREAT way to save money at venues like those!

 

[DisneyMissy318]

I'll be a dissenter and agree with the OP - I think bringing flavor packs is completely acceptable and a great $avings idea! I liken it to bringing your own sweetener - say Splenda or Stevia - in the event the restaurant does not provide the kind you prefer.

This is the budget board - and some of the ideas presented might not be to the liking of all - but for this OP - she's saving $$ and shared her idea with the rest of us. Maybe if more folks did this - the restaurants would get a clue and charge us the actual cost of about .10 cents a glass for soda instead of $3!

OP - thanks for sharing your idea.

 

[Malibustyle23]

I'll be a dissenter and agree with the OP - I think bringing flavor packs is completely acceptable and a great $avings idea! I liken it to bringing your own sweetener - say Splenda or Stevia - in the event the restaurant does not provide the kind you prefer.

This is the budget board - and some of the ideas presented might not be to the liking of all - but for this OP - she's saving $$ and shared her idea with the rest of us. Maybe if more folks did this - the restaurants would get a clue and charge us the actual cost of about .10 cents a glass for soda instead of $3!

OP - thanks for sharing your idea.

Or maybe the restaurants would actually just start charging full price for a glass of water instead offering a complimentary one. More likely, right?!

Why is water so awful that you can't stand to drink it with just one meal?

IMO in poor taste and in poor health.

 

[blue gatorade]

Maybe if more folks did this - the restaurants would get a clue and charge us the actual cost of about .10 cents a glass for soda instead of $3!

I understand the point you're trying to make, but it's not logical. What other (successful) place of business charges their customers for items at cost? The restaurant pays for the glasses, electricity for the ice machine, staff to serve you the beverage and clean up after you as well as countless other things. Of course there are some items businesses sell at cost or at a loss because the markup of other items (like soda... or "pop" as we call it here) is so high - the owners know they'll make up the difference in other ways. Just know that by serving you a glass of 10 cent Pepsi, the price of your spaghetti may go up a few dollars to balance out the books.

 

[POOHsie]

Re: Bringing drink flavorings to a table service restaurant --

Counter service = no problem. Table service = it's gauche.

Just drink water. Request a lemon slice for your drink - very refreshing.

 

[Marionnette]

I agree with the majority here. If you cannot afford the cost of soft drinks when you go out to eat, drink water or save for another week until you can afford it. Bringing your own mix-ins is akin to bringing your own dessert and expecting the establishment to furnish you with plates & forks to enjoy it. Tacky. Cheap. And I would be horrified if I was with someone who did this.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Then don't dine out with someone who does do it. It's really that easy.

OP, if it's something you do and are fine with, why are you seeking approval? If you are concerned that it might not be correct in some way, then you open yourself to what you are receiving, criticism.

If the cost of soda is driving your total tab above what you are comfortable paying, including tip then you may want to consider dining in less expensive restaurants.

 

[Granny square]

So lemons cost the restaurant and that is better than using your own flavor? We don't drink soda. Ick. And no better for one than crystal light for sure!

If a restaurant has a sugar free decaffeinated, uncarbonated beverage then I will order it. If not I will use a tea bag I carry or a crystal light. I like flavor. So sue me. I tip well, so the serving staff doesn't suffer a loss. Worked my way through college waiting tables. If the worst that can be said of me is that I am gauche because I like my water the way I like it, I can live with that.

 

[eliza61]

I grew up in my families soul food restaurant. all my siblings, cousins, aunt and uncles worked it at various points in our lives.
So here are some thoughts.

1) We realize that eating out can be expensive but we are also trying to maintain a livelihood. We post our prices outside the door and in various other easy to spot places.(this was pre-internet). We make the assumption that if you read it and come in you fully know approx what it's going to cost.

2) profit margins at restuarants are not very high. Sure the markup on soda maybe alot but it also covers the loss when 2 adults come in and want to split a meal because they want to save a buck.

3) There is a reason many places have signs that say "no outside food allowed".

4) we sell lemonade. If you want lemonade we would appreciate it, if you order it. We don't appreciate outside cans of coke, nor outside lemonade.

Chilis and almost every other chain restuarants sell non soda beverages (lemonade, strawberry lemonade, ice tea, unsweeten ice tea, etc). If you can't afford to purchase them as others have pointed out, it may be time to rethink eat out.

5) yes I know you tip well ***sighs*** even the guy who leave 2 bucks on a 50 dollar tab swears he tips well. I have no idea what that has to do with any thing, tips do not lost revenue for the establishment. If every patron decided to bring in their own drinks places would simply jack up the prices on the entree to cover lost revenue.

 

[Granny square]

That is the restaurant's right. I'm fine with it. If a restaurant sells unsweetened decaf tea I will happily pay for. Panera and Tim hortons both offer some nice ones.

Would you rather I eat elsewhere if I can't find a drink on your menu? Or use your lemons to flavor the water? It seems to me some business is better than none. I've only seen signs about outside food at fast food places.

As far as tipping goes, you are right. I can't tell you how many people stiff the wait staff.

I've also asked for a cup of hot water and paid for it. If someone will work with me I am beyond happy. I just can't drink carbonation, choose not to drink sugar that isn't fermented and caffeine after 2 or 3 doesn't work for me.

 

[maxiesmom]

Would you rather I eat elsewhere if I can't find a drink on your menu? Or use your lemons to flavor the water? It seems to me some business is better than none. I've only seen signs about outside food at fast food places.

I've heard that same excuse from people who want want to sneak their 4yr old into the parks for free. And people who want to put 5 people into a room that only holds 4. It doesn't make any sense here either. The cost of something is the cost.

Would you go to a store and only give them $10 for a shirt that costs $15 and tell them they should be grateful for whatever money you decided to give them? No, of course not. Same thing. A business doesn't have to be grateful because you decided to throw a few pennies their way. You need to pay for what you need to pay for.

 

[honeydiane1953]

Wacky, tacky. Just drink water.

 

[ilovemk76]

So lemons cost the restaurant and that is better than using your own flavor? We don't drink soda. Ick. And no better for one than crystal light for sure!

If a restaurant has a sugar free decaffeinated, uncarbonated beverage then I will order it. If not I will use a tea bag I carry or a crystal light. I like flavor. So sue me. I tip well, so the serving staff doesn't suffer a loss. Worked my way through college waiting tables. If the worst that can be said of me is that I am gauche because I like my water the way I like it, I can live with that.

That is not the word I said.

 

[Granny square]

Hahahhaha, fair enough! I love little screens, bad eyes, autocorrect And laziness!!