How to save money eating out...

By Jody Morse

Many of us eat out frequently, due to our hectic lifestyles and the added convenience of having a meal prepared for us. Unfortunately, eating out frequently can get to be very expensive. It is important to keep in mind that you do not need to order off the dollar menu at McDonald's for a meal to fit into your budget. Here, we will take a closer look at some of the things that you can do to keep the cost of your next meal at a restaurant down and still enjoy eating out.
Mixed Drinks
Although we all like to enjoy mixed drinks from time to time, it is best to only drink them on special occasions. Drinking mixed drinks every single time that you go out is a really great way to break your wallet. If you are on a diet, drinking mixed drinks frequently is also a great way to take in some extra calories that you probably do not want. Overall, it is safe to say that you should opt for soda, tea, water or another beverage rather than mixed drinks when you go out to eat if you want to save money.
Appetizers
Appetizers, on average, can cost anywhere from $5 to $10, depending on the restaurant that you are ordering from and the specific appetizer that you are ordering. One of the first things that you can do is cut down on the cost of eating out is skip the appetizer. At the same time, if you want to make the appetizer your meal, you should feel free to go right ahead. This is usually known to save money and many people even believe that eating appetizers can help you lose weight, as you will read in this article.
Skip Refills
Unless the certain restaurant that you are eating at offers free refills, the best thing that you can do is skip them. Even if the soda or whatever type of beverage that you are drinking was only a dollar, you will be adding another dollar to your total bill every time that you decide to have a refill. Of course, if you are really parched, it is unlikely that you will want to think about how much money you will be saving when you eat out.
Smaller Portions
For some dishes, many restaurants will offer several different portion sizes. If it's not advertised on the menu, you might have to ask. The best thing that you can do if you want to save money eating out is opt for the smallest portion size. Sometimes these portions will come without an extra side or without the first side. Many of us often order French fries and never actually eat them. It is important to consider how hungry you really are and then try to order a portion size that you will actually finish. Aside from not wasting food, you will also be able to save money while eating out.
Dessert
If you really want to save money eating out, you may want to consider skipping dessert altogether. However, there are special occasions or just times when we get cravings that only a dessert can satisfy. How to save money when ordering a dessert off the menu? For starters, avoid cheesecake. Even though cheesecake is very delicious from some restaurants, it often costs about $5 a slice. For two people, that is an extra $10 on your menu. If you're going to order an ice cream sundae, the best thing that you can do is opt for the smallest sundae size available and limit the amount of toppings that you put on it. This should keep your dessert at a reasonable price.
These are just some of the many different things that you can do to save money eating out. When you do decide to eat out at a restaurant, the best thing that you can do to save money is use your own judgment. Know how hungry you really are and then decide whether or not your eyes are bigger than your stomach. There are so many times when people end up not finishing even a portion of their food at a restaurant. If they had ordered smaller portions or avoided appetizers to begin with, they would have been able to finish their meals and save money along the way.