Follow this dining out guide to living cheap, if you fancy fine dining, but often find yourself lacking the necessary funds to do so, then as it should help you find affordable ways to enjoy your favorite restaurants. Living on a budget can be quite frustrating because you find yourself having to cut out certain pleasures that have an impact on your finances. One of the first things that usually suffers from cutting back are social events, such as dining.
A tight budget can have a detrimental effect on your social life, but learning ways to save money while having dinner with friends will allow you to enjoy yourself without having to worry about your bank account. The following offers some tips that can be applied as a dining out guide to living inexpensively.
An Inexpensive dining out guide presents: Ideas before arriving at the restaurant
If you find exceptional discounts at another restaurant, try persuading your friends to eat at that restaurant instead. Do not be ashamed in asking for the change in venue, as close friends will understand your need to save money, and they would rather have your company than leave you and go somewhere else to dine.
Another idea is to look for group discounts or coupons for two, as your friends would probably jump at the chance to save money when they are dining out, considering the expense to eat at most acclaimed restaurants.
If the restaurant of choice has been determined, go online and find the menu of that particular restaurant. The restaurant will most likely have a website with a menu display. If you happen to find the menu, peruse it to find an entrée that is affordable to your budget. In the case that the restaurant does not carry inexpensive dishes, take a gander at the salad options, or even the appetizer list, as those are certain to be a cheaper option than the main courses.
A Dining Out Inexpensively Guide presents: Decisions to be made at the restaurant
If the search for restaurant discounts or coupons has led to a dead-end, or your group of friends impulsively changed the choice of restaurant, do not panic. Once you have sat down at your table, take a moment to examine the menu. As mentioned previously, stay away from the pricier entrées. If all of the entrées happen to be expensive, order a salad or an appetizer. If someone inquires to your decision, simply explain you are either not hungry or you are trying a new diet.
You must also stay clear from the alcoholic beverages if you wish to save money on your dinner. Alcoholic drinks at restaurants have huge markups, so stick with water as your beverage. The ordering of sodas or tea at restaurants has become passé, so drinking water with your meal will be fine, and it is the cheapest alternative to drinking anything else.
Following this dining out guide to living cheap will hopefully restore your willingness to go out more and enjoy fine dining with your friends. A dining out guide to living cheap cannot be completed without stressing the importance of the internet as a researching tool. Remember, the internet is your savior for finding discounts, coupons and specials at certain restaurants, so solid research can lead to helpful savings.
Return to the Cheap Retirement Page
or click here to return to Cheapest Places to Retire
