Save Money Eating Out at Restaurants - 10 Best Tips

Eating Out on a Budget

If you're like most Americans, your life is getting busier and busier and you're eating out more. However, eating out can be a huge money pit, sucking thousands of dollars a year from your budget. The following are top 10 tips for eating out without breaking your budget.

Money Saving Tip #1 for Eating Out on a Budget: Order an Appetizer

Restaurant appetizers have been growing in size, not just popularity. If you're not very hungry, order an appetizer instead of an entrée and save as much as half the cost of eating out.

Money Saving Tip #2 for Eating Out on a Budget: Share an Entrée with Your Partner

In recent years restaurant entrées have also grown. If dining with a partner, try sharing an entrée, adding a salad or an appetizer if you're a bit hungrier. Note however that some restaurants charge a few dollars for splitting an entrée.

Money Saving Tip #3 for Eating Out on a Budget: Box Up your Restaurant Leftovers

Don't feel you have to finish everything on your plate when eating out. If a restaurant serves enough to feed a small village, don't be bashful and ask them to box up your leftovers. You can enjoy those for lunch the next day. This will not only save you money, it's also healthier given the number of calories typical restaurant fare packs.

Money Saving Tip #4 for Eating Out on a Budget: Drink Water

Restaurants pay less than $0.10 a glass for sodas. Yet many restaurants charge $2.00 or more for that soda. With no free refills, juices and alcoholic beverages are even more of a cash cow for restaurants. Drinking these on occasion is ok, but for the most part stick with water. It's better for both you and your wallet.

Money Saving Tip #5 for Eating Out on a Budget: Skip Deserts

Many restaurants use lower entrée prices as a come-on, making their real profit on deserts. Indeed, desert prices at some restaurants are flirting with the $10 mark - enough to pay for an entrée at lower cost restaurants. Skip desert while eating out and save a bundle. If your sweet tooth is acting up, have some ice cream at home, or if you find an intriguing restaurant desert, share it with your partner.