Pretty soon our days will be filled with enteraining kids, lounging on the beach, and organizing backyard playdates. After a long day in the sun, the last thing we want to do is stand behind a hot stove and cook dinner but we usually do so because it’s less expensive that dining out. My family enjoys eating out once in a while, so I thought I’d share with you 10 tips for saving money while eating out with your family.
Go where kids eat free.
We’ve complied a huge list of places where Kids Eat Free in our area! Lots of restaurants offer kids eat free nights now, and some also make these nights family nights and offer games and things like face painting to entertain your kids.
Sign up for email clubs.
Headed out to a chain restaurant? Before you go, sign up for their email specials. Often, they’ll immediately send you a promotional offer that you can use that night. My favorite? Chili’s! They always send promo coupons for free chips & queso, and for free desserts!
Check the menu first.
Browse restaurant menus online before heading out the door because sometimes there will be special offers on certain nights that can save you big money. This is usually always true at pizzera’s which offer discounts on salads or sandwiches with the purchase of a pie, or even money off pies on certain days of the week. My husbands favorite? The Four Seasons Diner offers Prime Rib night on Thursdays–you get a Prime Rib dinner with soup or salad for $13.95.
Use Foursquare and social media.
It used to annoy me when I’d see people “checking in” to restaurants, but I’ve come to realize how valuable doing so can be financially. Checking in via services like Foursquare can occasionally lead to an on-the-spot special offers like half-priced apps or even free dessert. Be sure to call ahead and ask if this is something your favorite restaurant offers.
Consider skipping the kids meal.
If both of your kids are ordering the same thing, it might be cheaper to skip the kids’ meal and order an entree portion for them to share. This is especially true if the restaurant does not include a drink in the price of the kids’ meal.
Use daily deal sites to your advantage.
Deal-a-day sites like Groupon frequently offer restaurant specials. Purchase the ones you know you can use with your family and most importantly: don’t forget to use the vouchers!
Don’t be afraid to use Restaurant.com!
I’ve used this service many, many times before and it’s totally legit. Every week they have some sort of deal–a $25 gift certificate for $2, etc. Usually, the gift certificates require the purchase of two entrees or a certain dollar amount ordered, but they always save me money when we use them. Heading out for a day trip? Be sure to check this website to see if there are any offers in the area first. And, in our area alone, there are many restaurants to choose from. My favorites? Spicy’s on the Seaside Boardwalk, Cheeburger Cheeburger in Brick, and Boston’s Pizza in Toms River.
Share drinks.
If a drink is not included with a kids’ meal, have your kids share a grownup-sized drink. Beverages are usually expensive and can really add to your bill.
Share meals.
Try going to a place that offers notoriously large portions that can easily be split between two people. You can choose to eat “family style” on a budget this way. The one place that always comes to mind when sharing meals for a great price is Rivoli’s in Toms River.
Seek out free extras.
Go to places that give you a free snack, like popcorn, peanuts, bread or tortilla chips. No need to order an appetizer on top of the freebies! My picks? Chili’s gives out heaping portions of their chips and delicious salsa, and the Tuscan House (Toms River) gives out mounds of pita bread with dipping oil.
Do you have any other tips for ways to dine out for less!?
