Dining out can be a wonderful experience, but it’s often not so kind to your budget. Luckily, you don’t have to sacrifice your love for restaurant meals to keep your finances in check. Here are 10 clever and practical tips designed for women aged 24 to 84 to help you save money while still enjoying the fun of eating out.
1. Order From the Kids’ Menu (Even as an Adult)
At fast?casual chains like Qdoba, kids’ meals cost just $5–8 depending on location, versus $10–12 for adult entrees.
For example, I ordered a kids’ quesadilla meal at the Qdoba in Jeffersonville, IN for $6.95 and that included a juice and side item. The portion is smaller but paired with a side and drink, it’s often enough—and you avoid waste. On this day, I had my granddaughter with me and also had a free order of chips and queso offer, so we split the kids meal and the chips and cheese. It was more than enough for both of us and we had leftover chips and queso for a snack later.
Let’s consider that a steak at your favorite restaurant probably runs a minimum of $16. If you order a kids’ steak, it will be around $10 with one side and your drink included. Check the rules, because some restaurants up charge for an adult and it may not be a good deal in that situation. However, you could order the meal to go and also save on the tip. Note: Please do still tip the person who brings your order to you but I personally tip them a little less since they aren’t refilling your drinks and serving you and cleaning up after you. Some won’t agree with that (usually servers, I’ve noticed) but I just don’t think walking my food to me and passing it through a window is as taxing or time-consuming as me sitting in the restaurant eating and making a mess.
2. Hit Happy Hour or Lunch Specials
Want restaurant ambiance minus full price? Go during happy hour, when appetizers and drinks are discounted 25–50%, and skip pricey entrees. Lunch prices are also often cheaper than dinner prices, as much as 20% to 50% lower before three p.m.
If you’re running around and need something to drink, hit up Taco bell for their $1.00 medium drinks. Just a note that they’ve reduced their sizes so their medium is more like a small but it’s still a decent deal.
3. Use Kids?Eat?Free Deals
Some chains offer days when you get a free kid’s meal with every adult purchase. Pay attention to signage and the websites of your favorite locations. With most kids meals costing around $8 now, you can save a lot by choosing your timing wisely.
4. Order Creatively
The other day, I was ordering our usual Subway order when Iearned a neat trick. My granddaughter likes only tomatoes on her sandwich. Nothing else at all! The lady waiting on us rang it up as bred and put the tomatoes as a side from my order. The bread was $1.50, whereas a sandwich is around $6. From now on, I will be ordering a side of bread and then asking for some tomatoes on the side when I order my sandwich. Since, I only get a couple of toppings and I see people piling them on, I don’t feel bad doing this. I did the math and it saved me around $4.
$4 might not sound like a lot but when you consider you could put that money into your retirement savings, the kids’ college fund or other investments and turn it into $100, it is more impressive.
5. Split a Meal or Appetizer
Portions are often HUGE—so share with a friend or spouse: split one entree or appetizer and each add a side. You’ll save 25 % to 50% versus ordering individual entrees. Drinking water saves even more money.
Dining solo? Order something that will taste good the next day and split the meal across dinner and lunch or have it for dinner two days in a row.
6. Use Loyalty Apps
Always sign up for restaurant loyalty programs—these often include welcome offers, birthday freebies, and periodic coupons. Pro tip: Don’t use your actual birthday when signing up. Rotate and use January, February, March and so on plus your birth year. This will ensure you get freebies around the calendar, making it more likely you’ll have a chance to use them before they expire.
7. Go for the Specials
Many restaurants have daily or weekly specials for a few dollars off or added food. For example, the Aussie 3-course meal at Outback comes with two sides, steak (and some other entrée choices) and dessert. It is $1 more than buying a 6 ounce sirloin with two sides, but the dessert is worth around $10.
Split the steak with someone and order an extra side and you’ll all walk away full, especially with Outback’s free bread they bring before the meal.
8. Buy Discount Gift Cards
Purchase restaurant gift cards below face value. Sam’s Club and Costco both offer cards for around $5 less than they are worth. You can also get money back at Target and through some credit cards when you buy gift cards. Kroger will give you fuel points to save money on gasoline. You pay less upfront and still enjoy the full dining experience.
9. Check the Bill and Skip Extras
Always review your check carefully—don’t get hit with extras like credit card surcharges, automatic gratuities, or items you didn’t order. At the same time, be honest with your server. If you ordered a drink and they forgot to include it, let them know. Many times, they will tell you not to worry about it, but you’ll know you did the right thing and it won’t come out of their hard-earned paycheck.
Skip expensive drinks, which can easily add $20 or $30 to a bill. Instead, order tap water. You can always run into Circle K and grab a soda afterward for around $1.
Why You Should Use Dining Out Hacks to Save Money and Manage Your Budget
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Eating out stresses budgets: U.S. households spend around $4,000/year on dining out, with sharp recent price hikes.
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Smart habits work: You have to learn to look at a dollar as worth more than a dollar. How much more valuable is saving money on dining out if you put that amount toward paying off your car, house or saving for the future?
You can still have fun. These hacks still lets you enjoy social time, date nights, and self-care meals.
Tips for success
| Strategy | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Set dining limits | Choose a set number of restaurant visits/month; follow one or two special strategies per outing. |
| Pre?plan outings | Check online menus and apps before heading out—it helps avoid impulse ordering. |
| Track your savings | Note your usual spend and your new spend using these tips—you’ll see real savings month?to?month. |
| Adjust portions at home | If ordering a kids’ meal, bulk it up with water and a side salad or veggies you bring. |
Bonus Resource
For more frugal meal inspiration, check out our Budget Meals page.
Should You Avoid Eating Out?
Eating out doesn’t have to drain your savings. By combining just a few of these hacks—especially ordering kids’ meals, splitting plates, using discount apps, and timing your outings—you can enjoy restaurant life while keeping your budget comfortably intact. Try one new strategy each time you go out this month, and watch the savings add up.
