Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Save money on your dinner bill
partner
<img title="Monica Buck" alt="Monica Buck"
src="http://img4.realsimple.com/images/tv/episode-101/bill-money_300.jpg?300:357"
align="left" width="300" height="357">Dining out can get
expensive -- especially when you have five mouths to feed. But a
family's got to eat! Financial expert <a rel="nofollow"
href="http://www.realsimplereallife.com/television/host-guests/farnoosh-torabi-finance-expert-00000000002851/index.html?xid=yshidinbil1"><strong>Farnoosh
Torabi</strong></a> shares her advice for cutting that
restaurant check in half. <p><span
style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"><strong>BYOB:
bring your own beverage.</strong></span> <span
style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Pick up a bottle of
wine at a liquor store before heading to dinner and you could save
up to 100 percent of the restaurant's price on the bottle.
Restaurants often mark up wine by over 100 percent. (Note: Some
establishments may charge a "corkage fee,"
usually around $10-$15, for allowing you to bring in your own vino
-- but in most cases, you'll still save.) <span
style="color:blue;"><a rel="nofollow"
href="http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/0,21863,1036408,00.html?xid=yshidinbil2"><span><strong>Find
the Perfect Bottle of Wine with these tips from <em>Real
Simple</em></strong></span></a></span><strong>.</strong></span></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"><strong>Order an
appetizer.</strong> Even if appetizer portions of entrees
aren't listed on the menu, restaurants may prepare them for
customers. The bonus: These portions are sometimes nearly as large
as the entrée plate, but a fraction of the
price.<br><br></span><span
style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"><strong>Make
your meal last.</strong> Get two dinners for one price. When
ordering, ask your server to pack half your plate in a doggy bag
before serving you the other half. You'll have a meal to
eat at home tomorrow -- and you won't be tempted to overeat
today. Learn how to <a rel="nofollow"
href="http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/0,21863,1014773,00.html?xid=yshidinbil3"><span><strong>Transform
Leftovers into Party-Perfect
Cuisine</strong></span></a>.<br></span><span
style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"><br><strong>Pay
in cash.</strong> Having a drink at the bar before your meal?
Bartender friends have confided to Farnoosh that credit card users
often overspend by an estimated 20 percent. One reason: Throwing
down a dollar in cash as a tip for each cocktail you order tends to
add up to less than the average 15 to 20 percent tip on a credit
card tab.<br></span><span
style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"><br><strong>Make
friends with the bartender.</strong> Freebies go to those who
are friendly.</span></p> <p><span
style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"><strong>Don't
Miss:<br></strong></span><span
style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"><a rel="nofollow"
href="http://www.realsimplereallife.com/television/browse-by-topic/work-life/savings-plan-checklist-00000000002920?xid=yshidinbil4"><span><strong>Savings
Plan
Checklist</strong></span></a><br></span><span
style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"><a rel="nofollow"
href="http://www.realsimplereallife.com/television/episode-guide/episode-101/wash-wear-wardrobe-00000000003033?xid=yshidinbil5"><span><strong>Wash
and Wear
Clothing</strong></span></a><br></span><span
style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"><a rel="nofollow"
href="http://www.realsimplereallife.com/television/browse-by-topic/work-life/shop-smart-save-money-00000000002975?xid=yshidinbil6"><span><strong>Shop
Smart and Save
Money</strong></span></a></span></p>
Related: savind money, dining out
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Posted by cmw Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:17pm PDT
"Throwing down a dollar in cash as a tip for each cocktail you order tends to add up to less than the average 15 to 20 percent tip on a credit card tab.
wow! perhaps you wouldn't mind if your employer used a few "tricks" to make your paycheck less than what you anticipate.
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Posted by Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:21pm PDT
GREAT ADVICE ASK YOUR BUSY SERVER TO PACK HALF YOUR PLATE BEFORE SHE BRINGS IT TO YOU YOU BETTER BE LEAVING BETTER THAN 20% IF YOUR GONNA BE THAT KIND OF CUSTOMER!
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Posted by Mike F Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:27pm PDT
i agree with the previous poster. if you're not going to tip people who depend on tips, don't eat out period. let someone who's not out to rip someone off have your seat.
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Posted by DOUGLAS Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:32pm PDT
Ya right,do these things at a restaurant. Bring your own wine, have half your meal packed up, etc. Don't you think owners, waiters, waitresses and so on are gonna get fed up with your little quirks??
Talk about being an annoying customer!! You'll either get asked to leave or restaurants will start charging for all these little extras.
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Posted by Barbara Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:36pm PDT
With two kids trying to earn a living by working in restaurants, I would suggest a picnic if the standard tipping rate is too high for you. Let the employees wait on tables with customers who will supplement their meager wages with a decent tip so the servers can afford their meals,etc too.
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Posted by Michaela Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:38pm PDT
this article is a step by step on how to be rude and have basically no class in any restaurant. Whoever wrote this is a disgusting patron and would do the world a favor if they stayed boxed up their groceries drank their 2-buck-chuck at home. Here's a tip: Get a clue.
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Posted by T Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:38pm PDT
Honestly these tips are not all that great-- appetizer portions? I have never heard of such a thing and I have a feeling most restaurants are not going to do this. Ask for half your meal to packed away before you get it seems ridiculous. Why not just save half to be packed for after you are finished.
I understand about wanting to save money with these hard economic times, but I find that if I just limit the amount of times I eat out it saves me money and at least when I do go out I can eat full portions and not worry about making one meal into two just to justify my going out in the first place. Other than bringing your own wine, these suggestions seem out of touch with reality and frankly stupid. If families and individuals limit the amount of times they go out to eat then they can at least eat without guilt and it makes the times you do go out all the more special.
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Posted by ME Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:41pm PDT
AMEN TO ALL OF THE ABOVE COMMENTS!!!!!
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Posted by Carrie Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:45pm PDT
I always tip 20-25%. I guess I don't know what typical tipping is on a bar bill. Is it less??
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