Being on a budget doesn’t mean that you can’t it out. It just means that you have to be a bit creative. We usually like to eat out for lunch or dinner on Saturdays. It’s not a “must do” and I usually try to plan something to make just in case, but it’s nice to have a break from cooking every now and then.
Here’s a few ideas of how we make it work:
This weekend, we decide to eat at Friday’s. We had a BOGO free entree coupon (see below) and a $25 gift card I had gotten through MyPoints (if you haven’t signed up yet, e-mail me if you’d like a referral!). Our total out of pocket for two adult entrees, two kids meals, and tip was $11.
Click here to access the BOGO free entree coupon (it expires on 7/5/09) – thanks Couponing Craze!
Last weekend, we went to Firehouse Subs for lunch. I love their food and my kids love eating there because they get a free fire hat! They have a punch card for frequent diners (buy 6 combo meals, get your 7th free). I had a completed punch card. I also had signed up for their online newsletter and they sent me a coupon for a free kids meal with the purchase of medium (or larger) sub. So, we got two combos and two kids meals for $11.79 out of pocket. You can sign up for their online newsletter here.
For more tips on dining out on a budget, check out this article here.
I've tried to do similar "schemes" when eating out. I had a coupon for a free Guiltless Grill entree at Chili's that we were able to use in April or May (I can't even remember which month, how sad!). I couldn't convince my husband to try it (he's just not adventurous when it comes to food). Nor could I tell you how much the meal cost us, but it was definitely cheaper than if we had to pay for two adult meals plus the kids' meals. 🙂