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Out To Eat on Less Money

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Going Out 4 Less

I hate paying full price for anything - especially eating at a restaurant where I'm not sure if I'll like the food or not.
I always figure that at least if I get one meal free, I won't feel so bad even if I don't think much of the place.
And, it really helps when it's a special occasion and you want to go somewhere a little above your budget.
Later on in this lens, I'll tell you how I take my husband out for lobster every year and only pay for MY dinner.

Table of Contents

  1. Kids Eat Free
  2. Getting coupons for chain restaurants
  3. Senior Citizen Discounts
  4. Restaurants who will mail you coupons
  5. Military Discounts
  6. Great Stuff on Amazon
  7. Check You Local Newspaper
  8. Entertainment Book
  9. Special Sites
  10. Getting restaurant gift cards at a discount
  11. Using Your credit card purchases to earn free gift cards
  13. Featured Lenses
  14. Reader Feedback

Kids Eat Free

Don't forget that lots of restaurants have special days when children below a certain age eat free.
That can make a BIG difference in that entertainment bill.

Getting coupons for chain restaurants

I adore saving money when we shop or go out to eat. It has become a hobby of mine to try and find ways to do that. And I have to say, I do pretty well. For instance, I've taken my husband out to dinner at Red Lobster on his birthday each of the last three years. He's ordered the biggest lobster they had, I had a shrimp or steak dinner and I haven't paid out of my pocket for any of them.

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Senior Citizen Discounts

When you check out the menu, always check to see if there's a senior citizen discount ( at least those of you who ARE senior citizens). It can knock a few dollars off your bill or get you a free beverage. This also the case at riverboat casinos, too.

More info about senior discounts

Restaurants Offering Senior Discounts Include:

* Arby's * Bakers Square * Bennigan's Bob's Big Boy * Boston Market * Burger King * Carl's Jr. * Carrows * Chick-fil-A
* Chili's Grill & Bar * Church's Chicken * Coco's Bakery Restaurants * Country Kitchen * Dairy Queen * Denny's
* Dunkin Donuts * El Pollo Loco * Elephant Bar Restaurant * Fosters Freeze * Fresh Choice * Friendly's Restaurant and Ice Cream * Fuddruckers * Golden Corral * Gondola Pizza & Steak House * Grandy's * Hardees * HomeTown Buffet * IHOP
* Jack in the Box * Kentucky Fried Chicken * Krispy Kreme Doughnuts * Krystals * Le Peep * Long John Silver's * McDonald's
* Mrs. Fields Cookies * Ponderosa Steakhouse * Popeye's Fried Chicken * Shoney's * Sizzler * Sonic Drive In * Souper Salad
* T.J. Cinnamons * Taco Bell * TCBY * Todai * Village Inn * Wendy's * Whataburger

Discounts and age requirements may vary depending on the location of the restaurant. Asking before ordering is always a good idea.

SENIOR DISCOUNT T-Shirt shirt
SENIOR DISCOUNT T-Shirt by samappleby
Browse Please T-Shirts

Restaurants who will mail you coupons

Most big chain restaurants and even local private ones will have you sign up for a mailing list or just print off coupons directly from their website. When in doubt - check. But here are some I know about and utilize myself.
Culvers
Step into a Culver's and you'll experience fresh, delicious food served with a great big side of friendly smiles and warm hospitality. That's what it means to be Culverized. Our signature ButterBurger® is made from fresh, never frozen, 100% U.S. raised beef and seared on a hot grill to seal in that
Texas Roadhouse
Not only do they have a "VIP" sign up where you can get coupons but they also have special deals for dining at certain times.
Texas de Brazil
Here's one I wouldn't go to without some kind of a deal. Almost fainted when I saw the prices the first time. Not sure how good the coupons might be. Someone sign up and let me know
Fuddruckers
Great place to take the kids and if they hive you a free meal one his or her birthday - great
Godfather Pizza
who doesn't like pizza?
Portillos
Make sure you check each site for "club", "mailing list", "coupons", etc. they all use different names.
Lou Malnati
If you're in the Chicago area, sign up for Lou Malnati's coupons and check out some great deep-dish Chicago pizza.
Wendy's
Do they still have square burgers?
Burger King
Ah Hah - they use "register" as the key word
Red Lobster
Have to tell you - every year I take my husband for a lobster for his birthday. I haven't paid a dime of my own money for them in over three years
Arby's
Never liked em myself
Dunkin Donuts
Can anyone live without a donut sometimes
Red Robin
Always busy and always good to get a deal
Boston Market
besides a $5 menu, they have a 20% special for teachers until the end of September
Popeyes Chicken
Love the stuff
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Better than mine
Boston Market
There's also a VIP you can join for email coupons
Mr Cheap Stuff
Has a clicklable list of coupons
Retail Me Not
Has a clicklable list of coupons
Recent Restaurant Coupons posted in Blog Catalog
Looked like a pretty good list of recent coupons
Mom's View
Printable coupons
Cold Stone Creamery.
Sign up for coupons on your birthday
Black Angus Steakhouse
Sign up for coupons on your birthday
Longhorn Steak House
Sign up for email offers
Chili's Grill and Bar
Sign up for emails and get a free appetizer
TGIFridays
Sign up and get all kinds of things from appetizer or dessert to coupons for dollars off
Outback
Sign up and get different perks depending on the points you gain from eating at the restaurant
Brown's Chicken
Look for a "Print Coupon" link on the website and get coupons for dollars off
Church's Chiclen
Look for a "Print Coupon" link on the website and get coupons for dollars off

Military Discounts

Not only do many restaurants give discounts for the military, many once a year have free dinners for veterans. Just check for what proof of service you'll need.
MILITARY DISCOUNT Sticker sticker
MILITARY DISCOUNT Sticker by samappleby
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Great Stuff on Amazon

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Check You Local Newspaper

We regularly get coupons for Steak N Shake in our local newspaper as well as local pizza restaurant coupons

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Entertainment Book

Another way to save money if you live in larger cities

For nearly 50 years, Entertainment has been helping people save in tough economic times with the big Entertainment coupon book. Today, more than ever, people realize that the premium 50% off and 2-for-1 coupons found in the book help them save on everyday essentials right in their neighborhood including:
: * Dining * Shopping * Movie Tickets * Groceries * Services * Travel * Attractions * Car Care * Home Furnishings
Plus, with each book purchase you get online access to hundreds of additional local printable coupons and incredible online shopping discounts not found in the book.
All Books Now Only $19.99 With Free Shipping! ( Regular is $35+) Check for a book available in your area by clicking on this link.
Entertainment Book Local Editions

Special Sites

SquiDirectory - A categorized Squidoo directory featuring an interesting variety of different subjects ranging from arts and literature, shopping, and eco friendly tips, to vehicles for sale, travel, and everything in between.

Dollar Stretcher - Living Better For Less
Not necessarily about restaurants but a good source of information on saving money in general

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Business Card - Asian Restaurant by carfour
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Japanese Restaurant flyer by BluePlanet
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Getting restaurant gift cards at a discount

Here's a legitimate place to get your restaurant gift cards at a reduced price

Restaurant.com is an online network of thousands of restaurants across the U.S. -- including some of the hottest names in dining. You can find member restaurants near you using our search engine, and learn more about each restaurant by viewing their 'microsites' featuring menus, wine lists, chef's bios and more. When you find restaurants you'd like to visit, you can buy Dining Certificates for a fraction of the actual value.

After you complete your purchase, you will be taken to a page with links to each Gift Certificate. You can personalize each certificate, then send them via e-mail, or print them yourself. We also send you a confirmation Email with links to your Gift Certificates in the event you'd like to send your certificates some other time.

Restaurant.com Gift Certificates are good for one year from the date of purchase, although there are exceptions depending upon the state you live in. For specific information, please read our Gift Certificate terms and conditions.


NEW FEATURE! Dinner of the Month on Restaurant.com.





Restaurant Highway Sign magnet
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Using Your credit card purchases to earn free gift cards

I also sign up for various things that get me gift cards after a certain amount of points. For example, one of my credit cards has that option to sign up for free. It doesn't affect my interest rate either. So, I make sure to run all car repairs and other large ticket items through that card.
( Just got my gift cards for this year's dinner - $100 gift card from my credit card rewards program for the auto repairs and Christmas gift purchases I purchased using it last year).
My other card has an automatic 6% rebate on gasoline purchases so I make sure to use that card when I buy gas. ( Neither of these cards has an interest rate above 11% - I got my rates lowered because I pay on time and I called and ASKED them if they could give me a better rate).

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Reader Feedback

Let me know what places I've missed. We all need these price breaks if we're going to have some outings during this economic low point

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