This diary will be some about some strategies that I currently and have in the past employed when time/accessibility does not mark possible to cook at meal at home. Though even eating out cheap will be more expensive in the long run that cooking at home (and expensive to your health as well), sometimes it cannot be avoided, and I think it's surprising and shocking how many folks who are very spending very smart at home fail when it comes to outside eating.
Feel free to leave additions or other strategies in the comments. If possible, I will attempt to update this diary with the best offered strategies and tips so it can remain a resource.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: This diary is more focused on the surviving than thriving. Though you'll note that the majority of self-made wealthy people continue similar habits in order to remain wealthy, there's no denying that super-healthy organic/fresh options are more expensive because of supply. THEREFORE, I am NOT ENDORSING any of the "nutrition" being discussed here. Eating out 5 days a week is not endorsed and is not a healthy meal plan.
STRATEGIES:
1.
Don't go out of your way.
Whether you're taking public transportation or your own, only select from choices that are on your main travel route OR very close, within 2 blocks or .2 miles. Don't lose in gas and valuable time what you're making in savings on food. Taking a route that adds 5 minutes to your travel time but offers several more choices to eat is definitely worth it.
2.
Pay attention
What restaurants on your normal route have daily specials that repeat each week? Did you see a commercial advertising a special deal on certain items? What are the billboards on the restaurant signs advertising?
3.
Coupon
Many of the "2nd Tier" chains regularly have coupons in papers and free local publications. Get your hands on these and take advantage....and since you're following #2 and paying attention, use them on days that you don't have a couple of regular specials already available to you. If you're just buying for yourself, take advantage of the 2-for-1 deals and either have a heartier meal OR save the 2nd for the next meal or snack.
4.
Buffet the right way.
Stuffing yourself silly and making it the only meal of your day will make you uncomfortable, miserable on the toilet later, and really screw with your metabolism....avoid this unless absolutely necessary. Instead, take advantage of specials at places like Western Sizzilin, Golden Corral, Ryans, etc etc, especially if you work the very early shift or the late shift. Quite often, the buffet is much cheaper from 2-6pmish, so go there then, eat your fill (but again, don't overeat) and intentionally fill your last plate so you can request a box for it, and have another meal later on the same tab! You're just turned the $6.99 dinner buffet into the $3.50 dinner buffet plus tasty $3.50 lunch the next day meal. Unless the buffet has a no-take-out rule, the waiters will be starving for excuses to earn tips and shouldn't object. And since you chose to go to an establishment with wait service, leave a tip...and if you "can't afford to leave a tip", don't go there to begin with.
5.
Expand your tastebuds.
This is especially true when picking up Subway; unless you're allergic, eat whatever the $5 footlong is, have half for the meal you're eating then and save the next half for a snack or meal later. February is pretty awesome because everything but the steak sub is $5 for a footlong.
6.
Don't eat "Chinese" food.
Unless it falls legitimately falls under #4, don't get "Chinese" takeout; it's probably really bad for you on levels even superior to McDonalds, it always ends up being more expensive than you anticipate.
7.
Drink Water and no chips/fries for you.
With the exception of the occasional special treat, don't meal-deal anything, and ask for a water cup. Taco Bell is the only fast-food establishment I know of that consistently requires you to pay for a water cup, and that's still a ton cheaper than buying a soda. Alternatively, you can buy a liter of bottled water from a gas station for under $2 and carry it around with you all day; I've never seen somebody get kicked out for bringing their own water. Just say you have a problem if they ask you about it. If you're a caffeine addict, pick up a $1.25 2 liter at the store on the way back to work or home instead of dropping more for a 20oz fountain drink at the restaurant. In case you need extra motivation, know that the cup AND the soda for a large drink cost that restaurant about 10c.
8.
Take advantage of frequent-buyer deals, but don't get sucked in.
Some places like Sheetz, Subway, etc have reasonably-priced food and still offer further discounts and free future food with loyalty cards, so find out about these and utilize them. HOWEVER, often those more-expensive places like Starbucks, Panera, etc have these cards to entice you to spend waaaaaay too much money on their products, so don't be a sucker.
TIPS:
1. Dollar/Discount Menus
Almost every fast-food joint has 'em. I always go in the restaurant unless I know exactly what all the food that's within my budget range looks like, and if there's little to no line through the drivethru (or it's so late that I don't have a choice), so you should do this too and get to know the discount offerings.
Best deals I've found:
* McD's McDoubles, and huge refillable sweet teas are $1. Grilled chicken wraps come in 3 flavors and are $1.50-$1.60 and very wholesome.
* Subway special footlongs (duh)
* Taco Bell soft tacos. Chicken Burritos are $1.59-$1.79 and very tasty, 2 have me full for a long time.
* Whopper Jr's at BK
* Wendys has multiple burgers for $1-$1.50.
2. Buffets
Most chain buffets have a set of hours where it's discounted; go then. Make sure you get your veggies. If you go to CiCi's pizza buffet, avoid the pizza and stick with salad and pasta.
3. Pizza deals
Pizza Hut is my favorite chain pizza but their $10 deal is not really that great. Occasionally Papa John's has a buy-one-get-one, see coupons for PH and PJ. Domino's and Little Caesars have daily deals that are very reasonable, including $5 "large" pizzas and buy-one-get-one mediums. If you or your family tire of having pizza twice a week, you can get some inexpensive "sprucing" for the pizza at the store, like extra cheese, veggies, Jalapenos, etc.
4. Hot Dogs
If you can score Hot Dogs with the works at a nearby stand or greasy spoon for $1.50ea or under, do it. If you commute along a busy byway you can often track down a few gas stations that have good hot dog deals.
AVOID:
1. Pay-by-the-pound salad bars; there are always more pounds there than you think.
2. Higher-end chains like Panera, Starbucks, make-it-in-front-of-you-TexMex, etc. Best of luck getting out of there for under $7 even without a drink.
3. Chinese places. No, really. Keep driving.
4. In-store delis (within Target, Walmart, etc). They are almost always marked up or are uber-shitty food.
5. Arby's or KFC, unless you have coupons. Typically only their absolute worst food is within our budget, which means you will eat shit, leave and waste time/gas, or order something more expensive that will only taste marginally better.
6. Chik-Fil-A: Waaaay too expensive across the board, and don't coupon very often.