Do you love to dine out every weekend? The takeaway has made it convenient to access food when you need it, but that is not such a healthy option. It is not suitable for your financial health. Well, you may have a lot of reasons to enjoy meals at the restaurant, for instance, a pay hike, buying a car and an anniversary. Sometimes you do not need a reason to dine out.
It is not a bad idea to have lunch or dinner at the restaurant, but you need to look into your budget. You may not realise that it is quickly lowering down your spending power. As the month-end approaches, you find that you are left with little or no money even to meet essential expenses, and as a result, you dip into the savings you have already built for a rainy day.
It is crucial to take care of your dining expenses, especially when you plan to save for significant expenses like buying a car. Even though you will use car finance in Ireland, you have to arrange a down payment, and you cannot achieve your goal if you keep spending your money on dining and takeaway. Here is how you can save on dining.
Pick up in person
When you order food online or through an app, you know that you will get it at your doorstep. Since you are getting it at the comfort of your home, you will have to pay for it. Delivery fees and taxes on it add up the cost of the food.
Further, there are no fixed delivery charges. It varies from location to location. Therefore, it is recommended to pick it up in person. Just order food online and opt for the option pick up. It can help you save between €5 and €20.
The delivery cost can be a bit higher during the festive season. In fact, discount and special offers are also not available during weekends. So whether you order food on a weekday or at the weekend, try to pick it up in person instead of getting it delivered.
Look for special offers
Most of the people usually eat out at weekends, and at that time you may not get any particular offer. If you are fond of restaurant food, you should do it when there is a special offer or discount. You can visit the restaurant site and see any discount offer or coupon you can use.
You can get such offers during weekdays because that is a trick to invite people as restaurants are crammed during weekends only. While picking up your order, you can ask the person at the counter when they are about to run a scheme on takeaway and dining. Some restaurants and fast food centres sell gift cards, especially during the holiday season. You can use them to save some money on food.
Use food delivery subscription
Pick up can help you save money on delivery fees, but this is not an option available when you cannot access transportation. In this situation, you should sign up for a delivery membership. The delivery partner app will offer you various subscription plans.
If you sign up for any of the plans, you can avoid delivery fees. You will also get some specials like a 50% discount on any meal. However, this is an ideal option for those who generally rely on convenient food. Calculate how many times you order food online and check if the monthly subscription will save you money. It may not be a nice idea if you order food once or twice a month.
Sign up for restaurant newsletters
Signing up for restaurant newsletters can help you be in the loop about special offers and discounts. You do not have to visit the restaurant website to check it every now and then.
You will get discount coupons and codes that you can use in your next order, provided you place the order before they expire.
Eating out can take a large chunk of your money. It is crucial to take specific steps to whittle down the takeaway cost. By taking control over your expenses, you will be able to set aside money for planned expenses like buying a car.
Even though you will use car finance for bad credit, you will need to arrange a larger deposit size. You will be able to achieve your goal if you whittle down your regular expenses.
