Birthdays, anniversaries, farewells, and all the ‘special’ occasions have one thing in common other than dressing up fancily – dining out. Most people wait for such events to come up so they can go out to have the dinner that they’ve been waiting for for months.
Have you ever wondered why people wait for special occasions to do something just as basic as eating food? That’s because eating at a restaurant brings happiness and a bill that must be paid. Such spontaneous plans can be detrimental to your savings if done regularly.
But it’s possible to address your untimely cravings without salvaging your bank account or wallet. Here are a few ways:
- Online reward programs:
Well-known brands often partake in reward programs. If you’re a regular shopper who buys a lot of things from well-known brands, there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to redeem rewards by uploading the bill of your purchase. There are many apps available online that offer this. Upload all your bills, and you’ll be instantly credited with any discount offer you can use at restaurants or fast food outlets.
- Check for deals and specials:
Before heading out to a restaurant, check for any available discounts and specials to help you save money. Checking for offers manually instead of using a service like Magicpin can be time-consuming but highly rewarding. Many restaurants offer discounts during certain days of the week or happy hour specials. Some restaurants offer early bird specials and discounted meals for customers who dine in during certain hours of the day. These specials are often available during off-peak hours and can be a great way to save money.
- Pay using your credit or debit card:
When you pay using your credit or debit card instead of cash, there’s a good chance that you’ll get some cashback on the amount you’re paying. If you have a cashback or rewards credit card, use it to pay for your meals.
- Don’t order drinks:
Alcoholic beverages can quickly tally up your bill, leaving you with a bitter aftertaste. Moreover, juices can also cost a lot of money. If you want to save money while dining out, avoiding drinks is better. Water is a far better alternative for both your body and your wallet. You can even bring water from your home in a bottle to avoid purchasing a water bottle at the restaurant.
To summarize, it is possible to save money when eating at a restaurant by having an eye out for cashback or reward programs. You can even use rewards and cashback apps to redeem rewards on the purchases you’ve already made. These extra bucks can be used to pay for meals. If you don’t find any active reward programs you qualify for, you can save by not ordering drinks and entering a loyalty program from the restaurant where you eat often. By putting any of the tips mentioned above into practice, you can free yourself from waiting for occasions to eat out at restaurants. Now, you can eat whenever you want without upsetting your wallet.
