NEW YORK (PIX11) — Higher food prices are not only hitting people at the grocery store. They’re also cutting into restaurants’ profits and making it more expensive to go out to eat.
The average American spends $300 per month on food, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That adds up to more than $3,600 per year. But, with a few simple changes, you can make asking for the bill easier to stomach.
Paige Hill of ‘Hip2Save,’ a deal and lifestyle blog, recommends downloading restaurant apps.
“There’s always going to be coupons and offers, but you just need to make sure that every time you eat out, you’re checking your app because odds are you’re either going to get a discount or you’re going to be adding to those points for your next freebie,” said Hill.
If you have children, Hill recommends taking advantage of savings. “Family meal deals are a great way to save when you’re eating out,” said Hill. “There are a lot of restaurants that do kids eat free or kids eat cheap.”
It’s also important to be mindful of small expenses that add up fast.
Consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch recommends limiting drinks, whether they’re alcoholic or not.
“Sodas nowadays, I’m seeing them for $5 or $6 a pop,” said Woroch. “[That’s] a great way to just cut costs for a family of four right there. That’s almost a $20 savings.”
Timing matters, too. “A lot of restaurants have early-bird specials as well as late-night dining specials,” said Woroch.
If you have the choice between going out for lunch or dinner, Woroch recommends doing lunch. “Lunch is going to be a better deal than dinner. A lot of restaurants will over lunch specials where you get more food for less.”
“My Costco and, sometimes, my Sam’s Club has gift cards,” said Woroch. “At Christmas time, they’ll do a deal where you get $100 worth of gift cards for $80.”
“Go to Groupon and Living Social,” recommends Woroch. “These are daily deal sites that have been around forever, but I feel like people have forgotten about them. They’re still a great resource for finding dining deals in your area.”