Eating out for less

[KKB]

We enjoy a meal out as a family once a week or so (BUT if our budget is tight one month, this is one thing we know we can cut!) And I am NOT a fan of fast food, so it is a sit down place.
When we go out we have noticed specials that restaurants have, and now we rarely go out anywhere where they aren't having a special. Don't be afraid to ask as you are leaving--hey, do you guys have specials any nights of the week?
Our favs are:
Bennigans kids eat free Tues or $4.99 burgers Weds. *ANY burger on the menu!
BW3 wing night or kids eat cheap night
Godfathers pizza $5 large pepperoni or cheese pizzas on Mon & Tues.
(obviously kids eat free is a fav for us--but there are many others; look for early bird specials before 6 PM etc., keep a look out for coupons at your fav place, etc.
DS 14 is our tricky one right now...sometimes he is an expensive adult meal, tonight he ordered off the kids menu (and at 5'10", no one blinked an eye!)
*****BEST tip******ORDER WATER TO DRINK! At $1-2 per soda, this takes a CHUNK off the top. (if drinks come w/ the kids meals, we allow them non-caffeinated sodas). DO NOT order appetizers--unless they are your meal. DO NOT order dessert. These 2 will add a lot to your meal. We find if we order appetizers we aren't hungry for dinner! (and the kids pick at theirs...)Additionally, DH & I often split meals at places we know have large portions.
funny story...tonight DS ordered a kids pizza at Mac Grill. We like Mac Grill cuz they often have coupons & DH & I usually have lunch for the next day...WELL...DS polished off his pizza, a whole bread, and half of BOTH DH & my meals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, well....guess I can keep pumping him full of bread for free next time!

 

[ah1126]

I like to get the local coupon books that the schools sell. Most of the coupons are buy one get one. We sometimes get our money's worth by just using 1 coupon.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Good tips. If I go somewhere often (like Outback or Carraba's) I go to ebay and purchase coupons for like $.50 to a $1 to use the next time I go. I generally save $10-$15 doing this including the money I spent to get them.

 

[java]

Well we've cut out dining out. Except when I earn enough mypoints to get a gift card. I am almost up to a $50 one. We'll see. I may chose to spend these on holiday gift cards instead. (teacher Christmas gifts? maybe?)

 

[Gisela]

For local restaurants (non-chains) I check for gift certificates from www.restaurant.com. They always have coupon codes out there to save 60-60% off the price of their gift certificates, so I can often get $25 gift certificates for $2-$3, PLUS get 15% cash back when I go through ebates!

Right now you can save 70% off their gift certificates using code PALATE through 8/24.

 

[shortbun]

I cash in all my credit card points(I pay it off every month!) for dining cards. Just got $75 worth for Olive Garden or Red Lobster. We used a Fridays last weekend. Our son is 14 now and doesn't qualify for any of the 'kids eat free' programs, alas!! Our local Qudoba has a special almost every night of the week. We've cut out drinks for most meals and just order water too. Once in a while we go for Applebees half priced appetizers although their menu is getting pretty boring!

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't like to eat out, just because I find I don't eat as healthy, but IHOP has free kids meals for every adult meal during the week, so DH, dd13, and I get adult meals, 3 of my kids eat free, and ds11 has his choice of adult or kids meal (usually kids, since I usually get something that comes with pancakes, and I give them to him).

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Kids eat free at Lonestars on tuesdays

 

[TiffanyK]

Great tips. Drinking water does save a bunch of money. One of the things my kids love about free dining is being able to order a drink that isn't water. We even drink water at home with meals, so lemonade or coke is a huge treat.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Our current "budget resturant" idea is chilli's 2 for 20. You get a starter ,2 meals and one dessert. Portions are large and there is enough for DH,DS 17, DGS 2 and I to share. We order water and even with tip have a nice meal for no more that fast food!!!

 

[Pirate1+Princess4]

but IHOP has free kids meals for every adult meal during the week, so DH, dd13, and I get adult meals, 3 of my kids eat free, and ds11 has his choice of adult or kids meal (usually kids, since I usually get something that comes with pancakes, and I give them to him).

It's only at certain times of day...maybe after 4 PM? I'm sure it's not good for breakfast.

 

[Disneychix]

Our current "budget resturant" idea is chilli's 2 for 20. You get a starter ,2 meals and one dessert. Portions are large and there is enough for DH,DS 17, DGS 2 and I to share. We order water and even with tip have a nice meal for no more that fast food!!!

We like chilis for budget meals too. Even if you don't order the above promotion we usually just get fajitas for 1 (not 2) and get an extra side of rice and beans. This is a ton of food. DS shares this with us.

Now, if only I can get DH to stop ordering margaritas!!

 

[StephMK]

If anyone goes to Fridays, Coke Rewards has a promo w/them - sign up for the TGIF member club and get a coupon for a free app or dessert.

 

[Ava]

If anyone goes to Fridays, Coke Rewards has a promo w/them - sign up for the TGIF member club and get a coupon for a free app or dessert.

You also get 25 bonus MyCokeRewards points when you sign up.

 

[disneynewbee]

We like chilis for budget meals too. Even if you don't order the above promotion we usually just get fajitas for 1 (not 2) and get an extra side of rice and beans. This is a ton of food. DS shares this with us.

Now, if only I can get DH to stop ordering margaritas!!

Haha I would save at Chilis too if it wasn't for those darned margaritas but that's on me not dh. One place I like to save when we go out as a family is Friendly's they have the $10 meal for adults where you get your drink, meal, and dessert. The kids get the smaller kids meal which is about $5 and includes drink, meal, and dessert. This is the cheapest we have found around us for a large family. We are close to several in MD and PA, we only eat at the PA ones though because the MD ones are so slow.

 

[npmommie]

It's only at certain times of day...maybe after 4 PM? I'm sure it's not good for breakfast.

yes its after 4 pm

Kids eat free at Moes on tuesdays

 

[lmountford]

This is a UK site but on its restaurant page it lists lots of Orlando restaurants that offer freebies or discounts for email sign up, birthdays anniversaries etc http://economouser.tripod.com/ most of them are national chains with branches throughout the US.

 

[aclov]

As long as your not embarrassed to do this, my mom adds crystal light single packets to her water. She's only had one server kinda laugh saying I don't remember you having a green beverage, but it was more out of confusion that she looked at the glass. I usually order water with lemon.

 

[Veronica Lodge]

We love our local Vietnamese place - best Pho ever! - and they routinely have 15% off coupons in local mailers or ad magazines for the place.

We also tend to order water at most places rather than colas or iced tea - it is better for you and free.

Sometimes I've ordered an appetizer and a starter-salad for my meal, rather than a full entree.

I almost never bother with dessert. 99% of the time, it looks *so* much better on the menu than in person, and just tastes OK.

 

[princessbride6205]

We like Old Chicago - we can get out of there for under $20 including tip - if we just get a pizza for the 3 of us to share. DD is young enough that we can bring her own drink in a sippy cup and no one bats an eye.
I don't like fast food either, but sometimes we'll do those sit-down fast places, like Noodles.
I had a kid come around selling the local discount cards last week, but the deals were terrible. The card cost $20 but discounts were only like 50 cents off.