Yesterday, I enjoyed lunch with my mother, sister & daughter at one of our favourite establishments. It's not fancy, by any means. In fact, most the time - it's inhabited by old fogies.
Our total bill: $45 & some change. -- OUCH! Talk about not living frugally.
Similarly, the husband & I took Monster Midget out for dinner a week or so ago. We opted for Applebee's since we were still in the appropriate time frame for half price appetizers.
Our total bill: $25 & some change -- OUCH AGAIN!
Let's examine where we went wrong....
* Coupons are for taking off money - not adding on extras:
Don't get drawn into the illusion that because you are saving money - you can spend more. Because we had a coupon for a free lunch or because the appetizers were half-priced, we let ourselves get carried away. Rather then enjoy the savings, we found ways to spend the money we were savings by purchasing more. The point of saving money is just that -- to save money, not to be able to get more for the same amount you would of paid anyway.
* Those little extras add up:
I usually opt for water when eating out. And *WHY* do I do this? -- Because drinks at restaurants are ridiculously expensive. The total amount spent on drinks yesterday estimated around $12 (Yes, I opted for water yesterday & shared my lemon water with Monster Midget so I didn't pay $2.50 for an apple juice for her).
During the Applebee's experience (in which you are required to buy at least one drink), the waitress sneakily mentioned "Anything for the baby? Apple juice?" & the husband took the bait, line & sinker. $2.59 extra on our bill for a child-sized apple juice along with his $2.59 soda that we had to buy in order to get our appetizers half-priced.-- $5 spent on drinks.
* Put the fork down once you aren't hungry anymore:
Restaurants serve you well beyond the portion-sizes you should be eating. They want to make sure you don't feel cheated for the high-prices you are paying. Suggestion: Once the food comes to the table, automatically split it into two servings. Eat one for dinner & save the other for lunch the next day.
Or even better - why not share? Rather then choose two meals for myself & husband, plus an additional one for Monster Midget -- Often times I recommend he gets a large meal, while the kiddo & I just get an entrée without the side. It brings out our cost down. It brings our calories down. And I don't have another cheap Happy Meal toy lingering around my house.
Moral of the Story:
Eating out can be fun. It's a change of pace, a change of environment & if your schedule is busy -- adds one less stress of preparing a from-scratch dinner. But use common sense & save yourself some cents in the end.
And don't take my sister out for brunch -- She's an expensive date.
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