Food Away from Home

Home Lifestyle Groceries and Food Restaurants Food Away from Home

Excerpted with permission from The 1-2-3 Money Plan: The Three Most Important Steps to Saving and Spending Smart by Gregory Karp (FT Press; $17.99)

The first rule of dining out for less is to do it infrequently. By all means, go out to celebrate a wedding anniversary or job promotion. But try to avoid loading the family in the car and going to a restaurant because you're a poor meal planner. And when dining out, look for reasonable ways to cut your tab without cutting enjoyment.

Food Away from Home, 1-2-3

1. Make freezer meals.
2. Use coupons and discounts.
3. Skimp on what you don't care about.

1. Make Freezer Meals

We've all done it. Dinnertime sneaks up on us, and we don't have anything planned and don't feel like cooking. The easiest solution is takeout, delivery, or schlepping to the nearest chain restaurant.

The simple solution is freezer meals. It's different from simple leftovers in the fridge. With freezer meals, you make double and triple batches when you cook. Then on those harried evenings, you're only microwave minutes away from a quicker, more healthful, and less-expensive entree than you probably would get dining out. Whip up a few quick sides, and presto! A meal.

A little meal planning goes a long way toward saving money, and not just on dinner. Taking lunch to work instead of buying is, admittedly, obvious and tired advice. But do you brown-bag it every day? Ask yourself why not. And what about that morning latte from Starbucks that every money advice-giver wants to cut from your morning routine? Well, that's up to you, of course. Just make sure it's truly how you want to spend your money. You might have seen the math before, but I'll repeat it here: Cut a $4 coffee and $7 lunch each workday, and you save $2,750 a year. If nearly three grand is no big deal to you and you don't need to spend it on something else, then eat out.

2. Use Coupons and Discounts

Granted, if a man is on a first date, he might not want to whip out coupons when the bill comes, unless he knows his date is of like-minded frugality. But coupons and discounts can save significant money on dining out.

One secret method keeps anyone from knowing you're getting a discount. Sign up at RewardsNetwork.com. Tell them what credit cards and debit cards you use to pay for meals, and if you dine at a participating restaurant, you get a discount automatically credited to your credit or debit account. You do nothing. Discounts are typically 5 percent to 10 percent.

If you're looking for a cheap way to take the kids out, look for special deals at KidsMealDeals.com.

3. Skimp on What You Don't Care About

Sometimes, we're on autopilot at a restaurant, ordering a soft drink, appetizer, entree, and dessert. Then we wonder why we're so uncomfortably full when we leave. Cut out what you don't care about. Do you like free water just as well as a $3 soft drink? Can you wait until you get home for a beer or glass of wine? Can you skip the appetizer or eat an appetizer and skip the entree? Are the portions big enough to share an entree? What about skipping the tempting dessert and coming back some other time for dessert only?

This isn't rocket science, but it does take discipline and a willingness to break your routine. Listen to your body about how hungry you actually are and order less. And look for reasonable substitutions that will cut your tab without cutting your enjoyment.

Greg Karp is the author of The 1-2-3 Money Plan. You can learn more from Greg by checking out his blog at Gregkarp.com.

Take the Next Step:

• Check out our coupon page and save money on your favorite products. click here
• For all things "Groceries & Food," please visit www.stretcher.com
• Subscribe to our new weekly Surviving Tough Times: Inflation fighters newsletter. This free email newsletter will provide ways to help you save money as the cost of everyday items rise. Each issue features six or seven articles to help you stretch your dollar!
• Share your thoughts about this article with the editor: Click Here

Copyright 1996 - 2013 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." All rights reserved unless specifically noted.

Contact the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton FL 34280
941-761-7805

"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.

Also In This Week's Issue

• Life insurance from marriage into midlife
• Affordable life insurance after 50? Or 60?
• How to track unclaimed life insurance money
• How to quickly boost your credit score
• Why good manners can boost financial success
• When it's OK to tap your IRA
• 6 cheap, effective home security solutions
• 5 excuses why people don't save for retirement
• Can a 'rapid rescore' help you get a mortgage?
• 5 types of credit unions worth joining
• Estate planning mistakes to avoid
• How to invest in a Roth IRA Video

In The Dollar Stretcher Community

• Dollar Stretching Recipes: Slow cooker refried beans
• Cooking with coffee: Great recipes

Reader Favorites

• Natural homemade shampoo
• Homemade cat food
• Removing pet urine smells
• Cheap dates and family activities
• Auto loan prepayment penalties