How to save money on dining out and takeout?
Save 40-60% on dining out by eating at lunch instead of dinner (30% cheaper), hitting happy hours for half-price apps, buying Restaurant.com $25 certificates for $10, and stacking loyalty apps like Starbucks Rewards and Chipotle Rewards. The average U.S. household spends $3,000+ yearly on food away from home. Limit takeout to once weekly, cook double batches at home, and use grocery pickup to avoid impulse takeout on busy nights.
In This Guide:
1. Time It Right: Lunch, Happy Hour, and Early Bird
Lunch menus run 25-40% below dinner prices for the same dishes, often with smaller but sufficient portions. Happy hours from 3pm-6pm and 9pm-close offer half-price appetizers and discounted drinks; many restaurants let you order from the bar menu at any table. Early bird specials before 6pm save 20-30% on dinner entrees, popular at family restaurants and diners. Restaurant week in most cities offers 3-course meals at $25-$45 versus $50-$80 normally, and runs twice yearly. Avoid Friday and Saturday nights when prices peak and waits are longest. Brunch on Saturday or Sunday often costs 30-40% less than dinner with similar ambiance.
- Pick lunch over dinner for 30% savings
- Hit happy hour for half-price appetizers
- Try early bird specials before 6pm
- Book restaurant week deals twice yearly
- Skip Friday and Saturday peak dinners
- Lunch menus run 25-40% below dinner for the same dishes.
2. Use Apps, Certificates, and Loyalty Programs
Restaurant.com sells $25 certificates for $10 (or $4 with frequent promo codes), valid at thousands of independent restaurants, saving 60% on a $50 meal. Groupon and LivingSocial offer 30-50% off local dining, especially for new restaurants. Loyalty apps like Starbucks Rewards, Chipotle Rewards, and Chick-fil-A One give free items after 5-10 visits; birthday freebies alone can yield $30-$50 in free meals annually. OpenTable and Seated pay $5-$50 cash back per reservation at participating restaurants. Stack a Restaurant.com certificate with a loyalty app and a cash-back credit card (3x dining like Capital One Savor or Chase Sapphire) for triple savings. Always read certificate exclusions and minimums before booking.
- Buy Restaurant.com certificates during promo sales
- Browse Groupon for new restaurant deals
- Join loyalty apps at your 5 favorite chains
- Book through Seated or OpenTable for cash back
- Pay with a 3x dining credit card
- Stacking a certificate, app, and 3x card can save 50%+ on dining.
3. Cut Takeout and Cook at Home More
Takeout averages $12-$20 per meal versus $3-$6 for the same meal cooked at home, so cutting takeout from 4 to 1 per week saves $36-$56 weekly or $1,800-$2,900 yearly. Cook double batches on Sunday and freeze half for busy nights. Use grocery pickup or delivery to avoid the store trip that triggers takeout on the way home. Keep 3-5 "emergency meals" like frozen pizza, pasta with marinara, or eggs and toast that take under 15 minutes, so you have a default faster than delivery. Pack lunches for work; a $12 restaurant lunch versus a $3 homemade sandwich saves $45 weekly. Host potlucks instead of group dinners out to socialize for one-third the cost.
- Cook double batches and freeze for busy nights
- Use grocery pickup to skip takeout triggers
- Stock 3-5 emergency 15-minute meals
- Pack lunches for work instead of buying
- Host potlucks instead of group dinners out
- Cutting takeout from 4 to 1 weekly saves $1,800-$2,900 yearly.
Need personalized help?
Use our AI Assistant below for custom advice based on your situation.