Let's face it: you love eating at restaurants and enjoying some late night drinks at bars, but perhaps your economy is not that keen on it. So it's time to learn how to find the best deals and follow the best tips to save money on your meals and your drinks!
SAVE MONEY AT RESTAURANTS
Find the Best Deals!
The first thing you should do is check social media. Many restaurants publish their discount and special offers on their Facebook or Instagram profiles. Make sure you sign up for updates on their platforms so you can keep up with the recent deals!
Another option is to sign up for email offers of the places you like the most. You will then receive a newsletter that can include offers for those customers who are subscribed. If you are interested in doing this, then you should visit the restaurant's website and fill in a form to sign up for the newsletter.
Last but not least, check the newspapers! Just like it happens with grocery coupons, you may find interesting discounts for your favorite restaurants.
Tips to Save Money at Restaurants
- Go for the lunch/dinner menu: Most of the restaurants have special lunch or dinner offers in their menus. Bear in mind that these options often include smaller portions.
- Take your own wine: Many restaurants allow you to bring your own bottle of wine for your dinner. In this case, they will add a corkage fee, but it's way lower than buying the bottle at the restaurant!
- Take-away option: You can get a discount price if you don't eat at the restaurant! This means you can opt for a take-away and enjoy your favorite food at home.
- Share your food: You can save money by sharing food. Most restaurants offer this option and it's the best one when they have big portions. You can also split an entreé, sides or dessert.
SAVE MONEY AT BARS
Being short on money shouldn’t stop you and your friends from planning a fun night out. Pre-gaming and drinking at someone’s house before going to a bar is a good way to save some of the money that you would've spent on expensive drinks there.
While looking for a bar, the first ones to dismiss are those who charge a cover. Secondly, you should pay attention to the bar’s prices and compare your different options. While you’re at it, check which deals offer each bar. Other options are platforms like LivingSocial and Groupon, where you can find great discounts.
Many bars include happy hours, where the prices of their drinks are much lower or you can get two for the price of one. The days and schedules often vary from bar to bar. Some of them even include discounts on weekdays, on the late nights and early mornings.
The harder the drink is to prepare, the more expensive it’ll be. The best advice is to order simple drinks. Beer on tap and house liquor are good alternatives to expensive drinks.
The best way to stay under your night’s budget is to pay with cash. If you open a tab at the bar with your credit card, you won’t keep track of your spendings. Even better, take a small amount of cash with you so you can make sure that you’re spending just what you’d planned.