Eating Out Mind Sets

Don’t be too harsh on yourself when your mind is just telling you to eat out because you haven’t done that in a while. However, if things are a bit sour on your financial end then you might just consider a few cheaper or affordable alternatives rather than breaking the bank. If for any reason you have to eat out when you’re broke then please, stop stressing about it like this is some Sherlock Holmes case and you have to solve this even when you’re not Sherlock. Here are a few practical ways to spend as little as you can when you’re dead broke. Even if you have a list of expenses ahead or are on a strict budget, you can still choose to dine out at least once or twice a month; you just have to be smart about it. Here’ how:

Fancy Isn’t Always Worth Your Money:

People from every age group are sometimes faced by an urge to just go out and eat something they’ve been craving for a long time. With people living in a foreign country or city, the problem is just too frequent because of many reasons but, sometimes people tend to eat at places that charge above par than other places or because everyone’s been talking about them. There’s nothing wrong in that but if you are sticking to a budget, have student loans to pay or it is the end of the month, then you should be a bit cautious about where and what you eat.
There are many local, small food joints that offer great food at an affordable price. Check out places that are new and looking to expand their clientele, you might get some free food because you’re their first customer. Dat Spot Rotisserie & Comfort Food is one legit eatery when you’re looking for a something to eat with a homemade flavor to it. The rotisserie in Potrero Hill has just opened its doors by the end of September and offers a variety of meals at a reasonably priced fare. Pizza is always the first thing that comes to our mind when we want to satisfy hunger at a reasonable price. This is probably the reason why there are so many pizzerias and other eateries offering pizzas along with a particular menu. So, if you’re looking to try a new pizza place then Pizza hacker, with their rocket man pizza might be able to surprise you.

Keeping Up with Coupons

If you’re on a tight budget for the rest of the month, the first thing you’ll plan to give up on is eating out but then what if you are too sick to cook your own dinner? There is a lot that can happen to leave you without a choice but to eat out. In times like these, coupons can be a blessing in disguise, put all the coupons you get in the mail or upon eating out, to good use. On the internet, there are coupon websites , which are entirely dedicated to providing you with great discounts and deals through which you can save your almighty dollars.

Reward points are quite rewarding:

There are certain reward programs and restaurants offer. If you’ve been a loyal eater at some restaurant then there are chances of earning great reward points which can add up to be redeemed for free food. Students, saving for student loans can utilize these reward programs through registering their credit, debit or dining cards to Upromise account, for free. This applies a specific percentage to your saving or loans upon spending money, on purchases or restaurants.

Research a bit:

If you have any specific place to eat out, make sure you check out their social media accounts and learn about any deals they are offering that day. Visit food groups and blogs, as they frequently talk about affordable places to eat. Subscribe to their newsletters or any other promotional material they send via email to keep you updated about any occasional discounts. Social media can be a great money saver as many restaurants or small eateries offer you discounts upon uploading photos, checking in or using particular hash tags. So before heading out, a bit of research will come in handy for you rather than costing you every pretty penny.

•If you’re looking for free lunch then Comstock Saloon offers free lunch on Fridays, reviving an old tradition of try drinks get lunch free. You buy two drinks and get a special plate from the weeklys.

•Mars Bar has set some great example with their Taco Tuesdays, which is more like a making Tuesdays, happy, with a $2 taco. Apart from that they have a $5 cheese pizza on Wednesdays, so that you can have more favorite days in the week than just Fridays and Saturdays.

•Fast Food Francais can serve you well with their $12 cheese burger, fries and a big glass of beer.

On the Menu:

While searching for places to eat here are some high-end restaurants with their specialties that you can try out at least once in a while:

•Scoma’s, in the fisherman’s Wharf area have been serving the best seafood since 50 years. Their Calamari is the best you can find in all of San Fransisco.

•Looking for great sushi? Ichi Sushi NI bar is a must-try. Their Sushi is great and the Omakese Chef choice offers you a great Omakese deal that you don’t want to miss. Located in Mission St. this made-to-please –your-taste-buds sushi bar can answer all your sushi wishes.

•If you want really good burgers in the Bay Area then Marlowe Burger is where you should go. They have the best lunch deals that are both fulfilling and tasty. Their plentiful burgers, sandwiches, and chicken nuggets are what you want to eat for lunch when you’re not up for a high budget, fancy place.

•If you need value for your money and have at least a 6 people group with everyone really hungry then The Progress is a 10 on 10 places to go that offers variety and great flavor. Their Wood Oven Roasted Porcinis with Smoked Hollandaise, the roti bread and mushrooms and super fresh ricotta and white nectarine salad with tarragon and almonds are the absolute best at The Progress. You’ll be in love with the ambiance, presentation of food and the welcoming staff. You can also get gift cards that you can present to a friend to let him enjoy dinner.

•You may get a great number of options if you go out to get some great Mexican food but getting some unconventional Mexican food menu is quite rare. Loló offers some really tempting Mexican food that can make you want to visit this place, every time you get those Mexican hunger pangs. Their Crab Tostadas are definitely worth having.

•Need some Asian fusion while searching for some great street food? Street Food Dojo can be your blessing in an Asian disguise. If you haven’t tried yet then their Kung Fu fries and Dojo Dawg (yes, it’s a hot dog) is a recommended must.

Split it if you can’t afford it:

There is nothing to be embarrassed about if you go out in a group to eat and evenly split the cost between every person. Also, if you have a small appetite and the restaurant offers good servings or large portions, then you can skip the appetizers and entrées; share the main course with your partner. Restaurants have their specials on specific days, weeks or hours which are offered at a fraction of the usual price.
If you’re living frugally, it doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your social life by not going and eating out, all you have to do is be smart about it and plan ahead.


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