Dining Out on a Budget

You don't have to stop eating out to save money. Just do it smarter.

Strategic Dining

Lunch Specials: Often the same food as dinner for a fraction of the price.
Happy Hour: Great deals on food and drinks.
Share Entrees: Portions are often huge; splitting saves money and calories.

Drink Water

Sodas and alcohol have high markups. Stick to tap water to save significantly per meal.

Loyalty Programs

Real Life Examples

Mrs. Williams

Teacher . $60k . 20% Savings

She treats herself to one nice dinner a month. She always picks a spot with a great happy hour and skips the expensive cocktails, enjoying the atmosphere without the $100 price tag.

Mr. Johnson

Average Joe . $90k . 10% Savings

He eats out twice a week because he's "too tired to cook." He doesn't track it, but these $40-50 meals add up to nearly $400 a month of unplanned spending.

Mr. Smith

Mr. Popular . $120k . 5% Savings

He eats out for lunch every day and dinner four nights a week. He always buys drinks and appetizers, spending $1,500+ a month on diningâ€”more than Mrs. Williams' entire housing cost.