There seemed to be some interest in how we can possibly eat out as a family for $40 every 2 weeks. I assume that the question was aimed at sit-down-and-eat waiter and menu restaurants, and not fast food. Although, fast food is a treat for us and not a regular thing. Our eating out budget can go to either 1 nice meal or 2-3 fast food meals, sometimes 4 if I can catch a deal. I'll start with fast food, because it's the easiest, although both ways require the same principle of being aware of good deals and planning ahead. Spontaneity will kill your budget.
Fast Food on the Cheap
Taco Bell 16 crispy tacos @ $.89ea + tax = $15.50
Carl's Jr Friday night is $.85 star burger night 8 burgers + 2 Jumbo fries + Tax = $13.20
Wendy's 4 pks 5 piece nuggets @ $1.19 ea + 3 bacon cheeseburgers @ $1.00 ea + 2 spicy cheicken sandwiches + 3 $1.00 fries = $18.50
Little Caesar's On Mondays, pizzas are $3.99 ea 3 pizzas + tax= $13.20
Popeye's Fried Chicken (Yum!) 11 pc box $9.99 + family size fries $4.00 + 2 extra legs @$1.50 = $18.50
Wal Mart Deli Bucket deal (If yours has it) 3 lbs from the deli for $10. We get 1 lb chicken strips, 1.5 popcorn chicken and .5 lb General Tso Chicken + 1.5 lbs potatoes approx $3.50 + tax = $14 and change
Fazoli's On Tuesdays, kids meals are $.99 ea. They're big enough that I get one too. 6 kids meals + something for my husband (around $4) + tax $11.50
The biggest tip is to buy the big size fries and share them. If your kids each "need" their own boxes, ask for them. I've never had a cashier tell me no. (helpful tip - keep extra fry boxes in the car for splitting up snacks)
Dining Out
Logan's Roadhouse Mondays and Tuesdays all day and evening have 2 adult entrees for $13.99 kids meals are $2.99 each and include a drink. The baby still eats off of my plate $13.99 + 5 @ 2.99 + tip & tax = $35.00
If you're in OKC, we love Bellini's for fine dining. Go at lunch and eat out on the patio if you're taking the kids. The portions are generous and the waiters are friendly. (If you live somewhere else, I'm sure you have local favorites that would be comparable. Pollo Pancetta (it's huge. I split it with #1 & #6) $12 + Spaghetti w/ meatballs (split with #5) $9 + hand tossed pizza for everyone else $11 + tax & tip = $40 if you take the kids at night, the same thing runs close to $55. Avoid the crowds. Go after Mass on Sunday.
Eating at a sit-down restaurant on a budget requires planning. Look up the menu ahead of time so you get an idea of what things cost. If you really like a restaurant, sign up on line for discounts. We get 15-20% of coupons regularly in our inbox. This helps tremendously. Also, have you looked at restaurants.com ? You buy a $25 gift cert for $10 ($2 if you buy it before the 16th use the code BIG at check out) There is a minimum purchase usually of $35 required, so you'll spend $20 for $35 worth of food. ($17 if you buy it in the next 3 days!!!! If you like the restaurants they have in your area, sign up for the meal of the month club. You get a $25 gift cert every month for the year for $120. If you use the code BIG, you get it for $24 so you can use the discount all year. Yay!) There are good deals everywhere, you just have to look, ask, and read the fine print.
Internet disclaimer : I have not been paid by any of these companies to promote their products. Although, if Bellini's wants to give us a free brunch, or restaurant.com wants to kick in a gift cert, I wouldn't turn it down.
10 comments:
I like all your tips and ideas. It's just good that you don't have any teenage boys, yet. There is not enough food in any of those deals for them. But they are great tips nonetheless.
Cathmom5- Logan's would still work for your family and have plenty of food for your teenage boys.
4 adult meals + 3 kids meals = 36.98
It just takes knowing the deals and specials and putting them together in a way that works for your family.
Some restaurants also have a "Kids Eat Free" day or time of day. IHOP may be one? The only one I know for sure is a Mexican restaurant at Yongsan Army Garrison in Korea... but I think IHOP might be one.
You're right. IHOP does have kids eat free. Unfortunately for us, it is only 1 child's meal per adult meal purchased, and they are pretty pricy for eggs and pancakes. But it is good if you have a much smaller family to feed.
The Mom-
Thanks for the info on Logan's. We'll have to try it sometime.
Tonight I got 3 pizzas from Dominos for $19 and some change plus 6 free cokes. Right now bring in a can of food for a teen shelter and they give you a can of coke or diet coke.
But you're right about shopping around, I do need to do it more. I'm going to the coupon site you suggested.
+JMJ+
We ALWAYS look at the menu and prices before we go any new place. We can even write down our orders to make things go WAY faster and not have meltdowns at the table for extra long waiting times. We can plan out how to save money and that helps the kids realize how quickly the tab adds up if they keep ordering soda, etc.. Also, it helps to show them how costly the desert is and that we can get x thing at x place, after, if they behave at the restaurant. They'd rather learn how much things cost and how it all works, and maybe sacrifice some things than not go at all because we can't afford the headache, tab, and time.
Popeyes also has 99 cent legs & thighs on tuesdays. Whic is how the Mom's brother, mother, and nephew get their Popeye's fix.
Wah! I miss Bellini's! It was our favorite after Mass lunch spot, just after Ted's Cafe Escondito(sp?). I miss OKC!
Great ideas. What do you suggest for families who have several children too old for kid meals?
Oh, around here, on Tuesdays kids eat free at chickfila. I believe you can get one free kids meal for every regular meal after 5 pm. Our family of 8 comes in under $30 using that deal.
Alamo Cafe is our go-to place with our family. We can all eat and be quite full for under $60. That is 5 adult meals and 5 or 6 kiddy-the two littles will usually split a meal. Unlimited chips and salsa, free drink refills and best of all, they can seat a family of 11, on a Sunday afternoon....immediately! \0/ Unlike the 45 minute wait at Village Inn or IHOP.
Thanks for the tips! We save money by almost always going out for lunch instead of dinner - even on our rare dates, hubby and I still go to a nicer place, but at dinner time. We usually skip the drinks too, if we're trying to stay under budget. We have four little ones and we have discovered that going to the Mexican restaurant works well because usually all they want to do is eat the tortilla chips, so they split meals and fill-in with the chips.
Post a Comment