1. An alternative to dinner and a movie is LUNCH and a movie. At most restaurants, lunch prices are much cheaper than dinner prices; and matinee prices are much cheaper than nighttime prices.
2. When going to the movies, DON'T waste $12 on popcorn and a soda. That's insane! Go out for ice cream or coffee before or after the movie -- you're still spending money, but it's a lot cheaper, and you'll probably enjoy another outing more than mindless munching through the previews.
3. Does your city have a $1.50 movie theatre? Ours recently opened, and I've been able to afford a lot more movies since. They're not the newest movies, but you still get that "going out" experience.
4. Can't afford to go out to the movies? Hit up Blockbuster and rent it and invite over a group of friends. Pop popcorn in your microwave and buy a couple 2-liters of soda. For less than the cost of one movie ticket, you and all of your friends can watch the movie, eat, drink, and socialize for hours!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Tips for saving money on food...
Food can be a huge expense -- especially when you're going out. Through the years, I've learned a few tips for saving money at restaurants...here are my tips:
1. When you go out to eat, don't order soda...come on, for what they charge you for that one glass, you could go out and buy 2 2-liters!! Instead, order water. It's better for you, saves tons of calories, and knocks a couple bucks off your bill.
2. If a group of friends want you to go out to eat at a nice (expensive) restaurant that you really can't afford, order a salad or appetizer to be social. If you're still hungry, you can eat something when you get home.
3. Instead of eating a meal at a restaurant, you could always order a dessert instead!! Desserts are usually much cheaper than entrees, and they usually come in large portions. You could even offer to split a dessert with a friend, saving you even more money!!
4. If you're out and about and you want to buy a soda or a snack, you're probably better off buying them from vending machines than convenience stores. Canned sodas in vending machines are usually between $.50-.60 and 20oz bottles are usually $1 -- in convenience stores, they're usually $.79 for a can, and $1.19 for a bottle.
5. An even better idea is to purchase 12 packs of cans or bottled water from the grocery store and keeping them at home, then bringing them with you on the go.
6. When eating at a fast food restaurant, it's usually cheaper to order off the dollar menu or value menu than to order a combo. If you follow tip #1 and buy water, you can usually get fries and a burger for less than $3.
7. Cheap snack or meal -- RAMEN NOODLES!! At less than a quarter a pack, you can't beat em. Add a little soy sauce to make it even better :)
8. When grocery shopping, don't be ashamed to buy the store brand. I always buy store brand foods, and they almost always taste just as good for a lot less!
9. Be sure to get a discount card from whatever grocery store you frequent. Most of the time, stores mark up prices so that you look like you're getting a "deal" with your discount card, when you're really paying the normal price. However, I'd rather pay the normal price than the marked up price!!
10. You don't have to eat like a king...purchase meats like chicken and hamburger instead of steak and pork chops -- it's a lot cheaper. Save those luxury meats for special occasions. There are tons of great recipes that use chicken and hamburger.
11. When picking out recipes, make sure to pick the ones that don't require too many ingredients. If you purchase random ingredients from the grocery store to make one dish, the chances of you never using it again are high. Try to plan ahead, and use recipes that use many of the same ingredients. Then, not only are you not buying unneccessary items, but you can usually save money by buying larger packages of whatever it is you'll be using.
12. Clip coupons! It sounds nerdy, but it can save major cash.
That's about all I can think of -- if anybody else has any money-saving tips on food (or anything else, really), your comments would be appreciated!! :)
1. When you go out to eat, don't order soda...come on, for what they charge you for that one glass, you could go out and buy 2 2-liters!! Instead, order water. It's better for you, saves tons of calories, and knocks a couple bucks off your bill.
2. If a group of friends want you to go out to eat at a nice (expensive) restaurant that you really can't afford, order a salad or appetizer to be social. If you're still hungry, you can eat something when you get home.
3. Instead of eating a meal at a restaurant, you could always order a dessert instead!! Desserts are usually much cheaper than entrees, and they usually come in large portions. You could even offer to split a dessert with a friend, saving you even more money!!
4. If you're out and about and you want to buy a soda or a snack, you're probably better off buying them from vending machines than convenience stores. Canned sodas in vending machines are usually between $.50-.60 and 20oz bottles are usually $1 -- in convenience stores, they're usually $.79 for a can, and $1.19 for a bottle.
5. An even better idea is to purchase 12 packs of cans or bottled water from the grocery store and keeping them at home, then bringing them with you on the go.
6. When eating at a fast food restaurant, it's usually cheaper to order off the dollar menu or value menu than to order a combo. If you follow tip #1 and buy water, you can usually get fries and a burger for less than $3.
7. Cheap snack or meal -- RAMEN NOODLES!! At less than a quarter a pack, you can't beat em. Add a little soy sauce to make it even better :)
8. When grocery shopping, don't be ashamed to buy the store brand. I always buy store brand foods, and they almost always taste just as good for a lot less!
9. Be sure to get a discount card from whatever grocery store you frequent. Most of the time, stores mark up prices so that you look like you're getting a "deal" with your discount card, when you're really paying the normal price. However, I'd rather pay the normal price than the marked up price!!
10. You don't have to eat like a king...purchase meats like chicken and hamburger instead of steak and pork chops -- it's a lot cheaper. Save those luxury meats for special occasions. There are tons of great recipes that use chicken and hamburger.
11. When picking out recipes, make sure to pick the ones that don't require too many ingredients. If you purchase random ingredients from the grocery store to make one dish, the chances of you never using it again are high. Try to plan ahead, and use recipes that use many of the same ingredients. Then, not only are you not buying unneccessary items, but you can usually save money by buying larger packages of whatever it is you'll be using.
12. Clip coupons! It sounds nerdy, but it can save major cash.
That's about all I can think of -- if anybody else has any money-saving tips on food (or anything else, really), your comments would be appreciated!! :)
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