Budget-Friendly Bites: How to Use Dining Offers and Coupons That Make Eating Out

On Sep 1, 2023

While we all love eating out at popular restaurants, no one loves draining their pockets! However, with careful planning and the right strategies, you can enjoy dining out without burning a hole in your pocket. Whether it’s a pizza night with friends or a family dinner, it pays to make the most of discounts and coupons. Eating out need not be an expensive ordeal for your finances when you know how to take advantage of deals, discounts, and credit card offers.

If you are wondering about the best strategies to save on your meals, we have got you covered in this article. Explore some practical tricks that would help you save money while you enjoy appetizing meals each week. Ranging from restaurant deals to loyalty programs, we will guide you to enjoy budget-friendly bites throughout the year.

Why do restaurants offer deals and discounts?

Have you ever wondered why restaurants and cafes offer heavy discounts to their customers?

Well, it’s just a part of their marketing strategy. Everyone loves relishing quality meals at affordable costs, right? You’d find it challenging to deny free stuff!

Carefully crafted deals attract hundreds of new customers to restaurants. Whether it’s the pizzeria, a bar or pub, or even a casual restaurant, discounts work wonders for these establishments. Restaurants can draw new customers and eventually scale their business.

Let’s take a look at these numbers to give you a better idea about the popularity of deals and discounts at restaurants.

In 2020, 88% of customers applied a coupon at restaurants.
38% of customers would be ready to travel an additional distance of 10 miles to avail of restaurant deals.
A study reveals that 81% of customers regularly look out for dining deals.
Around 33% of restaurant-goers decide where to eat out based on the availability of deals.
While purchasing meals, 77% of customers use restaurant coupons.

Different types of restaurant deals and discounts you should know

Explore the different types of restaurant deals and discounts that should help you save money while eating out.

Buy one get one (BOGO) offers

BOGO offers have been a tried-and-tested strategy for restaurants to draw new customers. Customers get the opportunity to maximize the value of their money. Depending on where you eat, you might come across different types of BOGO offers. These include:

The second bowl of noodles or pizza comes free when you pay for the first one
The second item comes at 50% of its price when you purchase the first one
You may also get a cheaper item when you pay full price for the first one

These promotional offers at restaurants draw new customers and go a long way in establishing their popularity. As a consumer, why not capitalize on these deals and look out for maximum discounts for large meals?

Remember, these offers are available only for a limited period on selected items. So, you need to keep track of the restaurants giving away these deals.

Student discounts

If you happen to be a student or a college-goer, student discounts at restaurants can save you food bills worth hundreds of dollars throughout the year. When you live on limited funds, it pays to be frugal and make the most of these discounts.

Many restaurants offer student discounts of up to 10% or even more to attract buyers. While you can enjoy these deals directly at some restaurants, others require you to make a purchase above a certain value.

At some eateries, you may have to produce a valid identity card. Even if the restaurant doesn’t require your documents, make sure to inquire about the discount before you place the order.

Apart from offering discounts to students, some restaurants offer free add-ons. So, there’s none stopping you from exploring delicious dishes and exciting your taste buds, even when you live on limited funds.

Combo food deals

We all love combo deals, particularly when restaurants meticulously pair up our favorite meals and drinks. As a customer, you would look out for a full meal at a minimal cost at restaurants. That’s why some restaurants oblige customers with a combination of commonly paired food and drinks. They price the combo meal in such a way that customers end up saving some money.

In other words, you would have to pay more had you purchased those items individually rather than going for the combo meal.

Look out for combo meals at different restaurants for lunch, dinner, or parties. This way, you would save lots of money throughout the year while enjoying the same menu.

The larger your ticket size, the more you can save through combo meals. So, plan your purchases strategically so that you can save a portion for the next day when you order the food home.

Happy hours or time-based discounts

You might already have noticed some local restaurants and cafes offering time-based deals. Popularly known as ‘happy hours’, these deals bring you a great opportunity to save money on meals by making your purchase within a particular time…