Restaurant coupons and the Entertainment book
Whenever possible, my fiancee and I try to prepare meals at home. It’s healthier and it saves alot of money. Sometimes, however, we don’t feel like cooking or just want something different (this one is usually her because I could eat the same things everyday and not have a problem). So now the question is how not to break the bank on a single meal.
Restaurant Coupons from the newspaper inserts:
Commonly Subway, D’Angelo’s and Papa Gino’s (a New England sandwich and pizza chain), the Darden Restaurants(Olive Garden, Smokey Bones), Uno, Friendly’s, and Bennigan’s. Usually saves $4-$5 on the meal.
Email Coupons from restaurants:
Get on all your favorite restaurants e-mailing lists as many will send you a free meal(Red Robin, Bennigan’s) or dessert(Macaroni Grill, On the Border) coupon on your birthday. Other times throughout the year you’ll get $ off coupons or free appetizer coupons. Vinny T’s in Massachusetts has been emailing $10 off $35 coupons.
Offers 2 for 1 coupons to a variety of restaurants in your metro area. You’ll probably find at least a coupon or two for a restaurant you frequent, use those two coupons and you paid for the book. Now what remains is finding the hidden gems. Check reviews on Yelp or listen to word of mouth, but the reality is: at 2 for 1 its hard to go wrong.
This website offers $25 and $10 gift certificates to various restaurants at a fraction of face value. The catch is that they have various terms attached usually its 1 per table, 2 people minimum. Sometimes they have minimum purchase amounts $35 or more, sometimes they are food only and usually cannot be used for alcohol, and some have black out days (no Friday or Saturday). Also, sign up for their email list as they send out coupons for 50% or more off their regular prices virtually every week. Don’t go crazy and buy a bunch right away, try just one first and see how it works for you. They usually say to present coupon before ordering and this is good advice as restaurants seem to go in and out of the program all the time. There are gems to be found here but they usually don’t stay in the program forever so check back every so often to see what new restaurants are on the list.
