6 Smart Dining Out Strategies to Save You $200 Monthly

Does your spending on dining out feel out of control? Eating at restaurants multiple times per week makes it easy to overspend by hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.

It's easy to get into an expensive dining-out habit. However, the convenience of grabbing takeout after a long day or enjoying drinks out with friends is undeniable.

 

But when spending grows unchecked, too much of a good thing can undermine other financial goals. Things like vacations, car repairs, and paying off debt get postponed.

The good news is that with proper planning, smart choices, and a little discipline, you can rein in your spending without sacrificing the enjoyment of eating out.

This blog post explores six excellent strategies for saving $200 monthly. Read on to learn practical ways you could save $200 per month or more.

How Dining Out Overspending Creeps Up on You?

When eating out becomes a habit, the costs can increase without you noticing.

An average restaurant meal for one cost $15, while even casual eateries like fast food can ring up tabs over $10 per item. Yet three meals a week at just $15 each tally up to $180 monthly.

We often underestimate smaller individual costs once seeing the larger whole. If you eat out extensively, that monthly amount only grows. Before you know it, your dining bills have become more of a burden than enjoyment.

Why It’s Crucial to Get This Area Under Better Control?

Money spent needlessly on restaurants can undermine other financial goals. Few people have extra cash, so overspending in one area means having less for something else.

College funds, retirement savings, debt repayment, and more all suffer when dining dollars grow unchecked. Health can also suffer. Restaurant fare tends to be higher in fat, sodium, and calories than home cooking.

Taming this runaway part of the budget now is vital for your financial and physical well-being.

6 Savvy Tactics to Save $200 a Month Dining Out

With some innovative strategies, you can still enjoy going out while keeping more money in your pocket. Want to trim $200 monthly off your dining bills without feeling deprived?

Here are six clever dining hacks you can start using right away:

1. Make Your Budget Visible

First, tally up what you spent eating out last month. Shocking right? Now set a monthly target, ideally cutting your old amount by 50-75%.

Seeing your goal will keep your spending at the forefront of your mind. Check your progress weekly. Studies show people who actively track spending save more than those who don't.

2. Use Cash Only

Studies also show people spend significantly less when using cash instead of cards. So hit the ATM for your allotted dining out amount each week.

When cash runs out, make meals at home or pack food until it replenishes. Using only cash introduces accountability since you can only spend what you physically have on hand.

3. Eat Early

Reserve dining out for a weekend lunch or early dinner instead of peak evening hours. Many restaurants offer significant discounts before 5 or 6 pm.

For additional bargains, go out for the early bird specials aimed at older patrons. Discounted menus are available as early as 4 pm! You'll enjoy quality meals at budget prices while avoiding noisy nighttime crowds.

4. BYOB

Wines, cocktails and beers can inflate a restaurant tab. So bring your bottles of wine or six packs of craft brews since many dining establishments allow outside alcohol without charging corkage fees. Just call ahead about policies.

With BYOB, you still enjoy great drinks with dinner while trimming another 20% or more of the bill.

5. Share Plates

Who says you have to order multiple courses separately? Share appetizers and desserts Family Style to sample more menu items while reducing portions.

 

Are you going out with a group? Have each person order one signature dish, then pass plates around so everyone can taste it. Contrary to outdated etiquette rules, sharing plates has become commonplace and cuts costs substantially.

6. Cook Swap with Friends

Coordinate periodic cook swaps to give everyone's palate a break from home cooking. On designated nights, one person hosts dinner at home while others contribute a homemade dish to share potluck style.

Not only does this provide social time together, but it adds variety to everyone's food routine, which is nearly cost-free. Get creative cooking ethnic cuisine themes together.

The Right Changes Lead to Big Savings

Even moderate dining habit adjustments can yield dramatic savings. Cutting just three restaurant meals per month saves nearly $100. Reducing average meal costs by a few dollars compounds further.

Realistically trim $200 monthly off your trade-offs tab with them and reasonable trade-offs.

Just imagine what investing those thousands per year could do in the long term instead of losing them to thoughtless overspending. It's more than possible with the proper focus and commitment.

Start implementing targeted changes for yourself this week!