Black Belt Shopper
(featured column)
Enjoy
Eating Out without Busting the Budget
by Larry
Wiener
Let's eat out!
That's the cry of many a family at the end of a busy day. And who wouldn't
want to eat out? Someone else does the cooking and, more importantly, the
cleaning up. You may eat a type of food you ordinarily don't get to have
and you get out of the house. More...
But eating out can also be a budget buster.
A $35 restaurant bill for a family of four can feed that family for several
days. More importantly, if you are in debt
or otherwise tight, eating out too much can suck up money that you can use to
work toward financial freedom.
Still, eating out is enjoyable. It is part of the American
way of socializing and can contribute a great deal to a couple or family's
communication by getting them out of the house.
So, the question is, how can you enjoy eating out without busting the budget?
Here are some tips that may help:
* Kick the fast food habit. While I enjoy eating out, stopping at a fast
food outlet on the fly is not my idea of a good time. Still, I know plenty
of broke people who live on fast food. When I travel, I often see people
getting their breakfast at the convenience stores that are part of gas stations.
Eating these simple meals at home can allow you to eat out in a real restaurant
and enjoy yourself.
* Consider lunch rather than dinner. At many restaurants, lunch is
considerably less expensive than dinner. Many of us tend to buy smaller
and less expensive entrees.
* Look for restaurant coupons. You'll find these in the same places that
you'll find grocery coupons-Sunday supplements, online, etc. You'll also find
them in the entertainment
section of the newspaper and on the backs of register
receipts.
* Get an entertainment book. Sold by local nonprofit organizations, these
books contain coupons for restaurants, entertainment facilities, travel, and a
host of other offerings. If your local Boy Scouts or church group doesn't
have entertainment books available, you can also order online at Entertainment.com.
* Join a dining program.
Programs such as idine offer rebates, either
in cash or in airline miles. If you eat out a lot, particularly on
business, check out these programs. Be careful, though, that you don't
rationalize eating out more than your budget allows you to because you're
getting a rebate.
* Skip the expensive drinks. If you are a wine drinker, know that buying
drinks at a restaurant is the most expensive way to drink. You may want to
consider skipping the drinks at the restaurant and buying good wine to drink
with a meal at home. Or, some restaurants for a nominal charge will let
you bring your own wine.
* Picnic with takeout. During good weather, you may want to consider
going to a local deli, getting some sandwiches and salads, and eating in the
park. This is usually less expensive than a fill-blown restaurant and you
still get the feel of eating out. This is also great if you have kids
because they can run around. Use paper plates and you don't have to worry
about cleanup.
* Form a supper club. A friend of mine who loves to eat out organized a
supper club with several of her friends. They meet once a month or so at
one person's house. Each family brings a special dish and they have a
great time. They all get an evening out and great food at a fraction of
the price.
Eating out is a great part of the American
tradition. It can be expensive, but with a little forethought, it doesn't
have to be as expensive as it seems. For more ideas on saving on food and
other expenses, check out my e-book, available on this site, The
Black Belt Shopper's Guide.
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Copyright
© 2005 by Larry Wiener. All rights reserved.
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