How to Save Money Eating Out (Without Giving It Up)

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Eating out is one of the first things people are told to cut when money gets tight. But a meal out is often more than food: it's a break from cooking, a family treat, or the one night a week nobody has to do dishes. Cutting it completely usually doesn't last.

The better plan is to keep eating out, but pay less each time and choose when it's worth it. This guide covers simple ways to save at restaurants, the apps and deals worth knowing about, how to save on vacation, and how to eat out less without feeling like you're missing out.

Quick answer

To save money eating out, go at lunch instead of dinner, use happy hours and kids-eat-free nights, join the free loyalty apps of places you already visit, order water, share starters and desserts, pick up instead of paying for delivery, and buy restaurant gift cards at a discount. Set a monthly eating-out budget so the treats stay treats.

What are the best ways to save money eating out?

Here are the habits that tend to make the biggest difference, starting with the easiest.

1. Eat out at lunch, not dinner

Many sit-down restaurants have a lunch menu with smaller portions and lower prices than dinner, often for very similar dishes. If you want to try a pricier place, lunch is the cheapest way to do it. Weekend brunch can work the same way.

2. Use happy hour for food, not just drinks

Happy hour menus at many restaurants and bars include discounted appetizers and small plates. A couple of shared plates at happy hour can cost less than one main course later in the evening. Times and menus vary, so check the restaurant's website or call ahead.

3. Look for kids-eat-free nights

Plenty of family restaurants run "kids eat free" or "kids eat for $1" deals on certain weeknights, usually with the purchase of an adult meal. These deals change by location and can end without much notice, so check with your local restaurant before you go rather than relying on an old list online.

4. Join the loyalty programs you'll actually use

Most chains now have free apps or rewards clubs. Joining usually gets you points toward free food, app-only deals, and often a free birthday treat. The trick is to only join places you already visit, otherwise the deals just tempt you to eat out more. Turn off notifications if they push you to order when you weren't planning to.

5. Order water and skip the extras

Drinks, especially alcohol, specialty coffees and sodas, can add a lot to the bill. Ordering water is the easiest saving on the table. The same goes for add-ons: sides, upgrades and "make it a combo" are where small amounts creep in.

6. Share plates (and dessert)

Restaurant portions are often big enough for two. Sharing a starter, splitting a main with a side salad, or ordering one dessert with extra spoons cuts the bill without anyone going hungry. With kids, a couple of shared appetizers can work better than separate kids' meals.

7. Take leftovers home on purpose

If portions are large, eat half and box the rest for lunch tomorrow. You've just turned one meal out into two.

8. Pick up instead of paying for delivery

Delivery apps add delivery fees, service fees and a tip, and some restaurants list higher menu prices on the apps than in the store. Ordering directly from the restaurant and picking it up yourself is usually cheaper. If you do use a delivery app, compare the total at checkout with the restaurant's own price.

9. Buy restaurant gift cards at a discount

Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club often sell multi-packs of restaurant gift cards for less than their face value, and some grocery stores run gift card promotions too. Around the holidays, many chains offer a bonus card when you buy a gift card. Only buy cards for places you already eat at, and use them before you forget about them.

10. Follow restaurants for specials

Local restaurants often post daily specials, early-bird deals and slow-night offers on their websites, social pages or email lists. Signing up for one or two favorites is enough. If you ever get a discount, tip on the full price before the discount; your server did the same work.

11. Set an eating-out budget

Decide on a monthly amount for meals out and stick to it. Paying with cash or a separate prepaid card for restaurant meals makes it easy to see what's left. When the budget is planned, eating out stops being a guilty extra and becomes something you enjoy.

Is there an app to save money eating out?

There isn't one app that's best for every town, but a few types are worth knowing:

• Restaurant loyalty apps from the chains you already visit, for points, app-only deals and birthday rewards.
• Cash-back and rewards apps that give a little back when you pay at participating restaurants. Check the terms before you link a card.
• Local deal sites and savings memberships that list discounts at nearby restaurants and businesses.

One example of that last type is Nexus Rewards #ad (free account to explore, full benefits $9.95/month). Nexus describes its Local Deals Hub as local deals and discounts from businesses in your neighborhood, including restaurant discounts. Deals depend on where you live, so check whether places you'd actually go to are included before paying for anything.

How can I save money eating out on vacation?

Food can be one of the biggest costs on a trip. A few habits help:

• Choose a stay with breakfast included or a small kitchen, so at least one meal a day is covered.
• Make lunch your main restaurant meal. You get the same local food at lunch prices.
• Walk a few blocks away from the main tourist spots. Restaurants a short walk from the busiest areas are often cheaper and less crowded.
• Visit a grocery store or local market for picnic lunches, snacks and drinks.
• Pack a refillable water bottle and snacks for days out, so you're not buying every time someone gets hungry.

Can you save money by eating out?

Usually, no. A meal you cook at home almost always costs less than the same meal in a restaurant, because you're not paying for service, rent and staff. There are a few exceptions, such as a cheap lunch special when you'd otherwise buy ingredients you won't finish, or when cooking for one leads to wasted food. For most families, though, the savings come from eating out less often and more cheaply, not from eating out instead of cooking.

How do I stop eating out so much?

If eating out has crept up, these steps make it easier to cut back without feeling deprived:

• Plan three or four easy dinners each week. Most takeout happens when there's "nothing to eat" at 6pm. Our guide to the cheapest way to feed a family of 4 has a simple 7-day plan to start from.
• Keep a "fake takeout" night. Homemade pizza, burgers or stir-fry scratch the same itch for less.
• Have a backup meal in the freezer for tired nights.
• Make your grocery list do the work. A healthy grocery list on a budget keeps quick, cheap meals on hand. If you like an app to help with the shopping side, the Nexus Grocery Pro app in Nexus Rewards #ad is one option; Nexus says it helps you make smarter decisions wherever you shop.
• Keep eating out, but schedule it. One planned meal out each week or two is easier to stick to than a total ban.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to eat out?

Lunch specials, happy-hour food menus, kids-eat-free nights and counter-service restaurants are usually the cheapest options. Ordering water and sharing plates lowers the bill further.

Do restaurants really give free food on your birthday?

Many restaurant loyalty programs offer a free item or discount for your birthday, but you usually need to sign up ahead of time, sometimes weeks before. Check each program's terms.

Is it cheaper to order takeout or eat at the restaurant?

Picking up takeout yourself is often cheaper than dining in because you skip drinks and the tip for table service. Delivery is usually the most expensive way to get the same food because of fees.

How much should I spend on eating out?

There's no single right number. Look at what you spent last month, decide what feels comfortable alongside your other bills and savings, and set that as a monthly limit.

Are discounted restaurant gift cards worth it?

They can be, if you buy them for places you already eat at and use them. A discount only helps if the card actually gets spent.

How do I save money eating out with kids?

Use kids-eat-free nights, share appetizers instead of buying separate kids' meals, order water, and eat earlier in the day when lunch prices apply.

Final take

Saving money eating out doesn't mean giving it up. Eat at lunch, use happy hours and kids-eat-free nights, join only the loyalty apps you'll use, skip the drinks and delivery fees, and set a monthly budget. Small changes on every meal add up over a year.

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