Eat out on a budget
If you're exhausted after a busy day with the kids, or have been swamped with work at the office, cooking may be the last thing you want to do.
Treat yourself! Take a well-deserved break from the kitchen and head out for a family meal at a restaurant in your local area instead.
Check out these money saving tips, which will help to ensure the staff don’t present you with an astronomical bill at the end of your meal.
Breakfast
Breakfast is a great meal to have out with the kids on the weekend as you’re up early most of the time anyway.
You’ll save money because menu prices at breakfast time will generally be cheaper than those at night time.
Enjoy a fancy “light” breakfast, such as a bowl of yummy homemade muesli topped with fresh berries, which will be cheaper than a big cooked breakfast. And better for your waist line too.
Have a coffee, but try to limit the number of refills. It can add a lot to your bill.
Fill your children’s tummies with a slice or two of thick-cut toast and jam and they can wash it down with a small drink.
Combine eating out for breakfast with a visit to a nearby park and you’ll have the perfect start to the day.
Lunch
If getting the kids ready to go out early on a weekend morning doesn’t thrill you, then a casual and relaxed midday lunch may be more your style.
Choose a local café for a lunch, because its prices are likely to be cheaper than those at a restaurant at night.
Save money by making the kids a sandwich or two before going out. Buy a special milkshake and it’s a certain treat.
Or, if you don’t mind sharing, order your own lunch and then make up a meal for the kids from your plate.
This will save you money on ordering food which the kids are most likely to push around on their plate.
Dinner
If you’re keen to go out for the occasional dinner, then it’s best to take a mid-week break from the kitchen.
On weeknights, restaurants often have cheaper “meal deals” to get people though the door.
These specials may disappear from the menu on Friday nights and the weekend, when restaurants are packed with patrons.
You can save money by feeding the kids at home. Order the kids a dessert at the restaurant, while you and your partner enjoy a grown-up dinner served by someone else.
Or, have a glass of wine and a cheese plate at home (make fancy cheese and crackers for the kids) and then all go out for dinner, dessert and coffee.
Consider limiting the number of drinks you order with dinner. There’s often a big mark-up on both alcoholic and soft drinks. Opt for water instead.
